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OUR PATRIOTS 



1 




From a photograph copyrighl by Underwood & Underwood. 

American engineers marching in London 

"These young men are going to fight for that which is most dear to them, their 
freedom and the freedom of mankind" [Page S] 



OUR PATRIOTS 



BY 

WILBUR F. GORDY 



AUTHOR OF 



'stories of early AMERICAN HISTORY, AMERICAN BEGINNINGS IN EUROPE, 

"ABRAHAM LINCOLN," ETC. 



ILLUSTRATED 



CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS 

CHICAGO NEW YORK SAN FRANCISCO 






COPYRIOHT, 1918, BY 

CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS 



JUL 27 1918 




A 

.50 
©Ci.A501307 



PREFACE 

This is one of a group of books designed to 
teach American ideals and American patriotism. 
The author has no intention of narrating his- 
torical events or of presenting biographical de- 
tails. His leading purpose is rather to make 
definite and clear the meaning of patriotism 
and to give a true conception of our country 
as a land of freedom and opportunity, where 
the government is of the people, for the people, 
and by the people. To this end he has made a 
careful selection of the men and women whose 
lives give expression to these ideas, and has 
tried to set forth clearly their patriotic aims 
and the ideals which animated and inspired 
their words and deeds. 

Two large groups of readers have been kept 
in mind. The first includes all those children 
who are certain to leave school as soon as the 
law for compulsory attendance will permit. Of 
these one-half leave school before reaching the 



vi PREFACE 

end of the sixth year and more than a third 
before they have finished the fifth year. Ten 
milhon out of twenty milHon children will never 
have the advantage of much more than five 
years in school. The other group, and it is 
very large, consists of foreign-born adults. Of 
these there were in 1910 in this country two 
million five hundred thousand who were unable 
to speak or write English. 

Both these groups should be made ready to 
meet the responsibilities of intelligent citizen- 
ship in a democracy like ours. They should be 
taught the fundamental elements of our insti- 
tutions, the basal facts in our national history, 
and the moral idealism which has guided and 
controlled the lives of our leaders and heroes. 
Thus will our children be socialized, the foreign- 
born adults Americanized, and the standard of 
citizenship elevated throughout our land. 

In carrying on this work of education and 
training, it is hoped "Our Patriots" may be 
made to play a useful part. The author has 
tried to present the facts in such simple lan- 
guage as to make the book easy to read either 
by young children or by adults who have not 



PREFACE vii 

advanced far in their ability to read English. 
The typographical arrangement and the sug- 
gestions to be found in "Some Things to Think 
About" will, it is hoped, assist in bringing 
vividly before the mind of the reader the 
events and ideals presented in the text. 

In conclusion, I wish to acknowledge my 
deep obligation to Miss Elizabeth P. Peck, of 
the Hartford Public High School, who has read 
the manuscript and has made many valued 
criticisms and suggestions, and also to my 
wife, whose helpful sympathy and able assis- 
tance have done much to give the book what- 
ever merit it may possess. 

Wilbur F. Gordy. 

Hartford, Conn., July 1, 1918. 



CONTENTS 

CHAPTER PAGE 

I. What It Means to Be a Patriot . . 1 

II. The Pilgrims 6 

III. John Winthrop 13 

IV. Roger Williams 19 

V. Thomas Hooker 25 

VI. John Smith 30 

VII. The Baltimore Family and the Settle- 
ment OF Maryland 39 

VIII. Henry Hudson 44 

IX. William Penn 49 

X. James Oglethorpe 54 

XL Patrick Henry 58 

XII. Samuel Adams 69 

XIII. Paul Revere 77 

XIV. The Declaration of Independence . 84 
XV. George Washington 91 

ix 



X CONTENTS 

CHAPTER PAGE 

XVI. John Paul Jones 115 

XVII. George Rogers Clark 120 

XVIII. Francis Marion 127 

XIX. Oliver H. Perry 132 

XX. Andrew Jackson 136 

XXI. Daniel Webster 143 

XXII. Frances E. Willard 150 

XXIII. Clara Barton 154 

XXIV. Abraham Lincoln 163 

XXV. How We May Be Patriots .... 180 

Index 187 



ILLUSTRATIONS 

American engineers marching in London . Frontispiece 

FACING PAGE 

An Indian welcome on Charles River 14 </ 

Washington at Valley Forge 110. 

General Andrew Jackson receiving the plaudits of his army 

after the battle of New Orleans 138 ' 



CHAPTER I 

WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A PATRIOT 

These are wonderful days in which you 
are Hving. No other children, since the world 
began, have grown up amid such stirring events. 
It is a time of great and swift change. The 
world of a few years hence will be very dif- 
ferent from the world of to-day. 

The thought of the awful war raging across 
the sea is constantly before our minds. 

We are told that a fair region has been laid 
waste, its crops ruined, its trees cut down, and 
its soil torn by shells and gashed with trenches. 

We see pictures of heaps of ashes and broken 
stones, where once stood beautiful churches, or 
comfortable hom-^s in which little children lived 
and played. 

We learn that those who lived in this region 
have been driven forth, the little children often 
separated from their mothers, and all suffering 
as you cannot imagine. 



2 OUR PATRIOTS 

We read that over these lands far and wide 
rolls the thunder of great guns; while from the 
battle-front streams a long line of wounded or 
weary soldiers, and toward it advances a great 
company of others who are to take their places 
in the trenches that face No Man's Land. 

We see young men — perhaps our own fathers 
or brothers among them — go away to be trained 
for service. 

We see soldiers and sailors, clad in khaki 
or blue, marching in our streets with the flag 
carried high before them. We hear the crowds 
cheer as they pass. 

We know that the soldier boys are soon to 
go far away from home and country, to cross 
the sea with its hidden perils, and to brave the 
dangers and hardships of the trenches, in order 
that they may join in the fierce fighting of the 
great world war. 

We see that those left at home, while they 
may be sad or lonely at times, are proud and 
glad that the one who has gone is doing his 
part. We see the service-flag with its star hung 
in the window of the soldier's home. We see 
churches and shops and business oflSces all 



WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A PATRIOT 3 

proudly displaying the banner upon which the 
stars show how many of those who have been 
with them have gone "into the service." 

We listen to stories of heroic and sacrificing 
deeds, and our hearts beat faster. We are 
thrilled as never before. 

We ask: "What does it all mean? Why 
do men leave their peaceful homes and go to 
places of such awful suffering.'*" 

The answer comes: "These young men are 
going to fight for that which is most dear to 
them, their freedom and the freedom of man- 
kind. For that right their forefathers fought 
and died, and the young men of to-day are but 
defending their birthright. It was at their 
country's call that they dropped their daily 
tasks to give themselves in the cause of free- 
dom and, by their loyal service, they are prov- 
ing their patriotism." 

PATRIOTISM AND OUR BIRTHRIGHT OF FREEDOM 

And what is patriotism ? It is love for one's 
country — a strong desire to serve her, to pro- 
tect her, and to make and keep her strong, and 
true, and honored among nations. 



4 OUR PATRIOTS 

By some this service is shown in one way, 
by others, in another. Some are gallantly fac- 
ing the guns. Some are making guns. Some 
are building ships or airplanes. Some are pro- 
ducing food. Some are making cloth for the 
soldiers and sailors. Some are nursing the 
wounded. Some are making bandages. But 
all, if truly patriotic, are loyally putting their 
country's good ahead of selfish interests. 

You see, then, that patriotism is something 
fine and strong, calling out the Lest in human 
nature, and that for us Americans it means 
not only love of country but love of freedom. 

Freedom is the very breath of our life. Our 
nation was born free, and upon ideas of freedom 
it has been nourished and has grown strong. 
It is our free life which has brought so many 
millions of people from other lands to America. 

We must not, therefore, think lightly of 
our precious birthright of freedom. We cannot 
prize it too highly, for it was won for us by the 
sacrifice and unselfish devotion of the founders 
of our nation, and has been cherished and 
handed down by a long line of patriots. 

If we read or study about the past days 



WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A PATRIOT 5 

of our country and the wonderful growth of 
our nation, we see that there are some men 
and women who stand out as leaders in dif- 
ferent periods. They had high hopes for this 
country and unselfishly worked to make those 
hopes real. Without their service, America 
would not be the fair land that it is. 

These were all true patriots, each serving 
his country in his own way, according to the 
service needed, just as our patriotic men and 
women of to-day are doing their service in the 
present time of need. 

By learning about the patriotic men and 
women of earlier days, we may see how strong 
and noble was their love for their country, and 
perhaps catch something of their spirit of ser- 
vice so that we too can become patriots. 

SOME THINGS TO THINK ABOUT 

1. What is a service-flag, and why should every American 

boy and girl be proud to have one hung in the window 
of their home ? 

2. What is patriotism? By what kinds of service are people 

showing their patriotism to-day? 

3. What has brought so many millions of people from other 

lands to America? Why? 

4. In what way can we learn how to become patriots? 



CHAPTER II 

THE PILGRIMS 

If we close our eyes and think far back to 
a long time before our great-grandfathers lived 
— a time about three hundred years ago — we 
may see, or imagine we see, a little ship tossing 
at anchor in a wintry harbor on our New Eng- 
land coast,, not far from where the city of Bos- 
ton now stands. 

The little sailing-vessel cannot come close 
to the shore, but stanch and sturdy men are 
carrying the women and children across the 
shoals to the land. There are about one hun- 
dred people in all. 

The ship is the Mayflower. It has just ended 
a stormy voyage of sixty-four days across the 
Atlantic. The passengers are the Pilgrims, of 
whom we have heard so often. 

At great sacrifice these brave people have 
left their comfortable homes in the Old World, 
and have come to an unsettled country to build 
up a state far away from the land whose laws 



THE PILGRIMS 7 

they found so hard. They have sought a place 
where they could worship God in their own way, 
and bring up their children to be God-fearing, 
liberty-loving men and women. 

Here they are bent on beginning a New 
World, where they shall be free men in a free 
land. The people of this new world are to rule 
themselves. They are full of faith and courage 
for the future. 

The Pilgrims call the place where they land 
Plymouth, after the town from which they 
sailed in England. 

Let us watch them at their first task of mak- 
ing a settlement; and we shall see with what 
courage and loyalty they meet the difficulties 
of starting a home in a new, strange land, and 
how they work out their ideas of freedom and 
justice. 

As soon as they land (December 21, 1620), 
all set to work. Some of the men and boys 
are chopping down trees, others are sawing the 
trunks into logs of proper length, and still others 
are dragging the logs to the places where they 
are to be used. 

All the work has to be done by hand, for we 



8 OUR PATRIOTS 

must remember that the Pilgrims have brought 
no horses or oxen, and in fact no animals at all, 
except a dog or two. How cheerfully the blows 
of the axes and the voices of the men ring out 
in the wintry air ! 

While the men and boys are doing their 
part in chopping and sawing and in building 
huts, the women and girls are quite as busy 
kindling fires, washing clothes, cooking food, 
and doing the many other things that are need- 
ful for the family comfort. You see how loyally 
they work together. All are helpful; all are 
eager to help. 

The cabins they put up are alike in form 
and size. The logs are laid one upon another 
to make the walls of the building. The cracks 
are filled with straw and mud, and the roof 
covered with reeds. 

THE FIRST WINTER AT PLYMOUTH 

During that first winter their food is plain, 
and very often there is little of it. Bread made 
of wheat, rye, or barley is about all they have. 
Only once in a while, when a hunter kills a deer 
or a wild fowl, can they have meat, for we must 



THE PILGRIMS 9 

remember that they have not even a chicken. 
Cold water is their only drink. There are no 
cows to give milk even for the children. 

No doubt the thoughts of the Pilgrim boys 
and girls often go back to the good things they 
enjoyed eating and drinking in the homes they 
have left across the Atlantic. But they are too 
brave to speak about it. 

Besides having little good food, the Pilgrims 
suffer much from cold, for they are without 
warm houses to live in. Until their dwellings 
are finished, they must go aboard the Mayflower 
each night to sleep. 

The lack of good food and of warm clothing 
and shelter causes much illness. At one time 
only their minister, Elder Brewster, and their 
military leader. Captain Standish, and five 
others are well enough to care for the sick. 
Captain Standish, although a fierce warrior in 
time of battle, is a gentle and kind nurse in 
sickness. He cheerfully helps out in cooking, 
washing, and other household duties. He is 
loyal to the struggling little settlement, and 
gladly gives his time and strength in the ser- 
vice that is most needed. 



10 OUR PATRIOTS 

The life proves too hard for the weaker 
ones, and at tnnes there is a death every day. 
At the end of that first terrible winter one- 
half the settlers have died. Yet, when in the 
spring the Mayflower sails back to England, 
how many do you think want to go ? Not one ! 
So firm are they in their determination to found 
a free land. 

THE PILGRIMS IN THEIR MEETING-HOUSE 

When the milder days of spring come, the 
Pilgrims join in building a meeting-house, where 
they hold gatherings of all kinds. On Sunday 
it is a place of sincere and humble worship. 
On week days it is the meeting-place when they 
wish to talk over some plan for the public good, 
such as the building of a road or bridge. 

These week-day meetings are like the town 
meetings held in some places to-day. Let us 
see how the Pilgrims give each man a voice in 
the laws. We will attend a week-day meeting. 

The Pilgrim men all come, wearing their 
broad-brimmed hats. They have no voting- 
machines, no printed ballots, not even a slip 
of paper to write upon. They use corn and 



THE PILGRIMS 11 

beans, a kernel of corn meaning yes, and a bean 
no. Simple as the method is, it makes each 
man one of the rulers of the little state, for his 
vote counts in making the laws and in le\^ing 
the taxes. 

Slowly the little Pilgrim community grows. 
But it does grow and is successful. In the fall, 
in spite of the suffering and sorrow they have 
undergone, the colonists proclaim a thanks- 
giving to God for His goodness to them. 

Although weak in numbers and poor in 
all that money can buy, the Pilgrims are rich 
in those things which are worth far more — 
faith in God, the desire and will to do what is 
right, and the willingness to endure great hard- 
ship and suffering for the sake of a great ideal. 
These priceless qualities of faith and goodness 
and courage they put into their daily living. 
They are implanted also in their laws and in- 
stitutions, and so still live to guide and inspire 
us. 

We can never cease to be thankful for our 
inheritance from these Pilgrim forefathers. Its 
value is beyond measure. It goes on increasing 
with the years. 



12 OUR PATRIOTS 

In this little struggling community are the 
beginnings of our American republic, the first 
to proclaim liberty to the world. The Pilgrims' 
gift of freedom and justice is not only to this 
country but to all nations. 

SOME THINGS TO THINK ABOUT 

1. Why did the Pilgrims come to the New World? 

2. Imagine yourself at Plymouth with them during their first 

winter in New England, and tell about their sufferings. 

3. What kind of man was Captain Standish, and how did he 

help out m the dark days of trial ? 

4. What do you admire about the Pilgrims? Why should 

we be thankful to them for what they did ? 



CHAPTER III 

JOHN WINTHROP 

From time to time news of the free life of 
the Pilgrims reached a group of people in Eng- 
land who were suffering under the same kind of 
tyranny as that from which the Pilgrims had 
fled. 

They were called Puritans, because they 
wished to make more simple, or pure, the forms 
of worship of the Church of England, of which 
they were members. 

finally they too resolved to leave their 
comfortable homes in the Old World, where 
Kings and bishops were so powerful, and sail 
away across the sea to take up their fortunes 
in a land of freedom. 

These were not simple folk like the Pilgrims. 
Many were rich, some belonged to families of 
high rank, and some had great learning. 

But they were like the Pilgrims in their 
firm resolve to go to a place where they could 

13 



14 OUR PATRIOTS 

live under laws of their own making and wor- 
ship God as their own hearts bade them. 

A small company came over in 1628 and 
settled at Salem. But not until 1630 — ten 
years after the Pilgrims reached Plymouth — 
did the great body of Puritans begin to come 
over in throngs. Nine hundred of them, led 
by John Winthrop, a rich lawyer and country 
gentleman, settled first at Charlestown, and 
then spread out to Boston and other towns 
near by. 

The first part of this company arrived in 
eleven vessels, bringing horses, cattle, and many 
other things useful in settling a new country. 
The voyage had taken nearly nine weeks; so, 
although they had left England in early spring, 
it was about the middle of June when they 
reached the Massachusetts coast. 

A TIME OF TRIAL AND SUFFERING 

Their plans had been carefully made and a 
small company sent ahead to build houses and 
do the spring planting. 

But in spite of their foresight, all did not 
go as they had planned. Cold weather came 



fr-Xip%3^r>'/;r^ 




An Indian welcome on Charles River 

Nine hundred Puritans . . . settled first at Charlestown, and then spread out to 
Boston and other towns 



JOHN WINTHROP 15 

before they were ready for it. The crops were 
disappointing. For food, they had to depend 
on the fish, clams, and mussels that they could 
pick up on the wind-swept shore, the acorns 
and ground-nuts they could dig from under 
the snow, and the small amount of corn they 
could get from the Indians. "Bread was so 
very scarce," wrote one of the Puritan settlers^ 
"that I thought the very crusts from my fa- 
ther's table would have been sweet to me." 

Moreover, to provide shelter for this large 
number was no small task. At first the poorer 
settlers lived in tents or booths hastily put up 
on the hillsides. These frail structures of course 
would afford little protection against storms or 
cold, and would have to be replaced by cabins. 

Dismayed by the cheerless outlook and 
fearing death by famine or freezing, about one 
hundred sailed back to England before the win- 
ter set in. 

But John Winthrop was not of the kind 
that turns back. Cheerfully making the best 
of things and sharing his goods with the less 
fortunate, he set to work with a will. 

Shelter was the most pressing need; so. 



16 OUR PATRIOTS 

shirking no humble task, he joined in felhng 
trees and building log huts. Soon rows of little 
cabins with stone chimneys and windows made 
of oiled paper showed the result of their labor. 

But in spite of their brave endeavors, the 
severe trials of that winter — the scant, coarse 
food which did not agree with them, the bad 
drinking-water (for they had not discovered 
that they were in a land rich in pure springs), 
the poor shelter, and the hard labor to which 
they were not used — proved burdens too heavy 
for the weaker ones to bear. 

Before December two hundred had died. 
"It may be said," wrote one of the Puritan 
leaders, "that there is not a house where there 
is not one dead." 

Yet amid all this suffering and sorrow they 
held to their faith in God. Hope and courage 
did not desert them, and in the darkest hour 
John Winthrop wrote to his wife, who had not 
yet joined him: "I thank God I like so well 
to be here, as I do not repent my coming." 



JOHN WINTHROP 17 

THE BRAVE AND FEARLESS JOHN WINTHROP 

It was this man of strong and beautiful 
character who held the colony together. His 
brave spirit and unselfish devotion during that 
distressing winter cheered and heartened the 
others. Brave and fearless, he had no thought 
of giving up. Forgetting his own trials and 
sufferings, he set his mind and heart on the 
great task of building up a community in which 
he and his fellow Puritans could carry out their 
own ideas of religion and government. 

Founded upon such courage and faith, the 
colony prospered and grew, spreading out into 
the surrounding country. 

In the early days, when the colony was small, 
all the freemen met with the governor and other 
high officials and helped to make the laws. But 
as the towns increased and the freemen became 
so many, it was not easy for all to gather in one 
place. So the voters in each town then began 
to elect men to represent them in a lawmaking 
body called the General Court. This was the 
beginning of representative government in New 
England. 



18 OUR PATRIOTS 

John Winthrop lived to see the colony, whose 
charter he had brought over, grow to include 
many towns, and Boston, which he had founded, 
become a prosperous capital. During twelve 
years he was governor. 

Little as he gave thought to his own place in 
the colony, he played a large part in its success- 
ful growth, and to-day we think of him as one 
of our country's first patriots. 

SOME THINGS TO THINK ABOUT 

1. Why did the Puritans come to New England? 

2. What kind of experience did they have during their first 

winter there ? 

3. How did John Winthrop show his loyal spirit? 

4. What kind of man was he, and what do you admire about 

him? 



CHAPTER IV 

ROGER WILLIAJVIS 

The Puritans had given up their homes in 
old England and faced the hardships of an un- 
settled country because they held their religion 
dearer than anything else in the world. Since 
freedom to worship in their own way had cost 
so much, they wished to be sure of not losing 
it. 

So they made very strict laws. In these 
they said: 

"Every one must go to the Puritan Church. 
No one shall vote or take any part in the govern- 
ment except members of that church." 

But some of the Puritans did not like these 
laws. Among them was Roger Williams, a 
young minister recently come to the settlement. 
He was much loved for his gentle and noble 
qualities, but he alarmed the Boston elders 
by the freedom of his views. He went, there- 
fore, to Plymouth, where they made him as- 

19 



20 OUR PATRIOTS 

sistant to the pastor, and later he went as pas- 
tor to the church in Salem. 

It was while he was in Salem that he said 
openly many things which the Puritans of 
Boston did not like. Imagine their dismay at 
hearing one of their own number say to them 
and to the world: "You do not own the land 
you live on; it belongs to the Indians." And 
again: "You have no right to tax people to 
support a church to which they do not belong. 
Nor have you any right to force people to go 
to church. Every man should be allowed to 
settle with his own conscience whether he will 
go to your church, or whether he will go to any 
church." 

He was only speaking what he believed to be 
the truth, but the Puritans feared he would 
break up the spirit of union among them, and 
therefore thought him unsafe. They had suf- 
fered so much to settle a place where they could 
make their own laws that they could not allow 
any one to talk against them. Such a person 
as this young minister, if not of their mind, 
should go elsewhere, they thought, and leave 
them to carry out their own ideas. 



ROGER WILLIAMS 21 

ROGER WILLIAMS FORCED TO LEAVE THE COLONY 

They held a council and decided to send 
him back to England. But as he was too ill to 
go at that time, they gave him permission to 
stay in the colony through the winter if he 
would not preach. 

As soon as he grew stronger, however, his 
Salem friends began to visit him and spend 
much time in discussion. Many came around 
much to his way of thinking. So the Puritans, 
fearing his influence in the colony, determined 
to send him at once to England, and a ship was 
then in the harbor about to sail. 

When Roger Williams received notice that 
he was to go, he bade a hasty good-by to his 
wife and two children — one a little girl two 
years old and the other a baby — and three days 
later, when the men who were to escort him to 
the ship arrived at his home, he was not there. 

He had set out for the home of Massasoit, 
who lived near Mount Hope, seventy or eighty 
miles to the south. He had made friends with 
this Indian chief and also with other Indians 
while living at Plymouth. 



22 OUR PATRIOTS 

The outlook was dark. It was midwinter, 
and the snow lay deep on the ground. As no 
road had been cut through the forest, he had 
to depend on his compass for a guide. To keep 
from freezing, he carried an axe to chop wood 
and a flint and steel to kindle fires. 

This long journey in extremely cold weather 
was indeed a severe trial to the lonely traveller, 
still weak from his recent illness. 

The Indian chief welcomed him to his cabin, 
and there Roger Williams passed the rest of the 
winter. 

THE SETTLEMENT OF RHODE ISLAND 

When spring came, he left Massasoit and 
went to seek a new place of settlement. He 
started out in a frail canoe for a place called 
Seekonk, but he tells us that Governor Winthrop 
wrote him to go to the land of the Narragan- 
setts, which would be free from English claims. 

Canonicus, chief of the Narragansetts, is 
said to have loved as a son this fair-minded 
young man who defended the Indians' claim 
to their land; and he made him a gift of the 
island lying across Narragansett Bay. 



ROGER WTLLIAMS 23 

The Indians told him where there was a good 
spring of water, and, with five or six friends 
who had joined him, Roger WilHams went there 
and made a settlement. He called it Providence, 
because of God's mercy to him in his time of 
danger. This was the beginning of Rhode Is- 
land, a colony where all men, no matter what 
might be their religion, were welcome. 

Roger Williams believed he was right in 
taking the bold stand that the Puritans should 
not force their religion upon any one. 

It took much courage to stand up against 
the Puritan laws in a Puritan community. He 
knew that in doing so he was risking the com- 
fort of himself and his loved ones, and that he 
might suffer the loss of home and friends. But 
he believed that men should be governed in 
their religious faith only by their own conscience, 
and was willing to suffer himself if in so doing he 
was able to help on religious freedom for others. 

He wanted to build up a community where 
each man might be free to act in matters of 
religion according to his own best motives; and 
in giving up his comfort and well-being to found 
such a state he was a true patriot. 



24 OUR PATRIOTS 



SOME THINGS TO THINK ABOUT 

1. Roger Williams said many things which the Puritans of 

Boston did not like. Tell what some of these things were. 

2. Why was he sent out of the colony ? 

3. Imagine yourself with him during his mid-winter journey, 

and tell what happened. 

4. In what ways did Roger Williams show that he was a brave 

and true-hearted man '^ 



CHAPTER V 

THOMAS HOOKER 

If we could go back to the early summer 
of 1636, and look down from some lofty height 
upon the valley of the Connecticut River, we 
might see, one day in June, a pleasing sight. 
A group of about one hundred men, women, and 
children are travelling on foot through the leafy 
wilderness and approaching the banks of the 
river at the place we now call Hartford. 

They have with them all their belongings. 
Their household goods are piled high in carts 
drawn by big, patient oxen, and before them 
they drive their cows and other domestic ani- 
mals. One of their number, the wife of the 
leader, being ill, rides in a litter carried on the 
shoulders of two stalwart men. The children 
are laughing and skipping along or sedately 
walking beside their elders. 

The sky is cloudless, the trees are in fresh, 
new foliage, and the air is sweet with the blos- 
soms of wild honeysuckle already dropping its 

25 



26 OUR PATRIOTS 

petals on the grass. When the lowing herds of 
cattle stop to browse on the green shoots along 
the w^ay, the children run to urge them on. 

Who are the travellers, and from what place 
do they come.'^ 

They are a companj^ of settlers from the 
INIassachusetts colony, seeking new homes in 
the Connecticut Valley. 

Thomas Hooker, the tall, majestic man you 
notice, is their minister and leader. They have 
come from Newtown, journeying forth like Roger 
AYilliams in quest of greater freedom than the 
Puritans allow. 

They have been two weeks on the way. 
This life in the open has been a new experience 
to them, used as they once w^ere to much ease 
of living in old England. 

But the preaching of their minister has 
kept them in good heart during their tiresome 
journey, and they are happy in the thought of 
the freedom they will have in their new homes. 

As they approach the place where Hart- 
ford now stands, they are much pleased with 
its beauty. The rolling hills, the broad, peace- 
ful river and its banks wooded with oaks, elms. 



THOMAS HOOKER 27 

and tulip-trees, the rich, green meadows, the 
wigwams of the Indians, and here and there 
the few log cabins of earlier settlers, all make 
a restful sight for the eyes of the tired travellers. 
It is here on the beautiful banks of the Con- 
necticut that Thomas Hooker, the apostle of 
free government, is to make real his dream. 

THE PEOPLE TO GOVERN THEMSELVES 

From its first settlement, Hartford seems to 
go quietly and steadily on its way. It has its 
share of troubles within and without, but around 
the little meeting-house as a centre, the colony 
strikes its roots deep into the soil, and becomes 
the first-fruits of free government, as Thomas 
Hooker understands it, that is, "government of 
the people, for the people, and by the people." 

In the meeting-house here, on Sundays, at 
the call of the church-bell, passing through 
armed guards at the door, the pious and stead- 
fast people meet for worship. The men sit on 
one side, the women and children on the other, 
all ranked in the order of their importance in 
the community. The burning eloquence of 
their pastor keeps faith and courage alive and 



28 OUR PATRIOTS 

greatly strengthens them for their weekly 
duties. 

On week-days, when a road is to be cut, or 
a bridge built, or some other public matter 
attended to, it is in the meeting-house again 
that all the freemen assemble to cast their votes 
— yes or no — each according to his wisdom and 
judgment. 

In all the affairs of the colony, both of reli- 
gion and government, Thomas Hooker is their 
leader. He is gentle and loving in spirit, espe- 
cially to the poor, yet he can be severe to those 
whom he believes unworthy. His religion is 
warm and glowing, and makes itself felt in the 
daily affairs of the colony. 

This far-sighted patriot is a man of much 
learning, of strong will, and deep sense of justice. 
He has no liking for a community where only 
church members can vote or hold office. He 
believes that all are happier if they have a 
voice in making the laws. Under his rule the 
first written constitution in America is drafted. 

All that he values most he cheerfully gives in 
the cause of freedom; and in giving each man, 
church member or not, a share in the govern- 



THOIVIAS HOOKER 29 

ment, he helps on the cause of freedom for all 
men. For this great service to mankind we 
should never cease to honor the memory of 
Thomas Hooker. 

SOIVIE THINGS TO THINK ABOUT 

1. A\Ti3' did Thomas Hooker leave Newtown and go to Hart- 

ford ? 

2. Imagine yourself with him in his journey through the woods, 

and tell what happened. 

3. What were Thomas Hooker's ideas of government? What 

do you mean by "government of the people, for the people, 
and by the people"? 

4. Why should we honor the memory of Thomas Hooker? 



CHAPTER VI 

JOHN SMITH 

A VERY different picture is seen on the banks 
of the James River, where was made the first 
settlement in Virginia. 

Thirteen years before the Pilgrims reached 
Plymouth, a group of merchants, nobles, and 
sea-captains in England, calling themselves 
"The London Company," planned to start a 
settlement in the New World. They had no 
high religious purpose in view. They merely 
wished that the settlers whom they sent over 
might make the company rich by finding much 
gold and silver and by building up trade. 

The first group to come over (1607) consisted 
of about one hundred five men — no women or 
children. They were mostly "gentlemen," or 
men who had never worked with their hands. 
You can imagine how poorly they would be 
suited for life in an unsettled country ! 

They had intended to land at Roanoke 
Island, but a storm drove them out of their 

30 



JOHN SMITH 31 

course. So they entered Chesapeake Bay and 
sailed up a beautiful river with the flowers 
of a Southern May blooming along its banks. 
They named the river James in honor of their 
King. 

Fifty miles from the mouth of the river 
they landed and, after looking about, chose a 
place in which to settle, naming it also after 
their King — Jamestown. 

Before they were fairly settled trouble 
began. It was very hot in the new country, 
and the damp air rising from the undrained 
swamps brought disease. Many fell ill and 
tossed about in fever on their rough beds. Some- 
times three or four died in a single night. 

Then, too, food was scarce, their long sea voy- 
age having used up most of their supply. Each 
man had only a cupful of barley to last all day. 
It was mouldy at that, and had to be mixed 
with the muddy water of the James River. 

To make matters even worse, the Indians 
were unfriendly and kept the wretched settlers 
in constant terror. Very soon after the white 
men came, two hundred Indians had attacked 
them, killing one and wounding eleven. After 



32 OUR PATRIOTS 

that guards had to be set, each man taking 
his turn as watchman every third night. Lying 
on the damp, bare ground caused more illness 
and sometimes there were not five men strong 
enough to carry arms. 

How different was this sad plight from the 
easy life they had expected ! We cannot help 
feeling a deep pity for them. Their sufferings 
were so great that before the summer ended 
half of them had died. 

SMITH A BRAVE, STRONG MAN 

Perhaj^s none of them would have lived but 
for a certain brave, strong man among their 
number. This man was John Smith. 

According to his story, he had already 
passed through many dangers in foreign lands, 
often barely escaping death. He had returned 
to England just in time to join these men 
coming to America. Being fearless and quick 
to think what to do, he proved a very great 
help to the colonists. Indeed the very life of 
the colony often depended upon him. 

The London Company had given him orders 
to search for a passage to the South Sea, for 



JOHN SMITH 33 

many even then believed America to be a thin 
strip of land with the sea lying just beyond 
the mountains to the west. But he dared not 
leave the colony while it was in so great danger 
of perishing. 

Before long, however, the cooler days of 
autumn set in and the future looked much 
brighter. There was more food and less sickness. 
Game began to run in the woods, their green 
vegetables ripened, and water-birds and fish 
were plentiful. New houses were built, and 
fresh purchases of corn were made from the 
Indians. 

Smith now thought that he might leave 
the colony for a while. So in December, with 
nine white men and two Indian guides, he 
started out to explore. 

After some days he reached the Chicka- 
hominy River. He had not gone far up this 
little stream when he added another to his list 
of exciting adventures. He had gone ashore 
in a canoe when he suddenly found himself 
surrounded by two hundred Indian warriors. 
They captured him and carried him away, 
taking him around to many of their villages 



34 OUR PATRIOTS 

and at last to the long wigwam of their chief, 
Powhatan. 

There it was decided to put him to death. 
Some of the warriors placed two stones upon 
the ground, then seized Smith and laid his head 
upon these stones. Their clubs were raised to 
strike a death-blow, Smith tells us, when the 
chief's little daughter, Pocahontas, rushed for- 
ward and threw her arms about his neck, beg- 
ging her father to spare his life. Powhatan 
yielded to the pleading of his little daughter. 
Smith's life was saved, and three days later he 
was set free. 

He hurried back to Jamestown and found 
that during his four weeks' absence the settlers, 
again out of food, had lost heart and were 
making ready to sail away in the pinnace. 

By good chance a ship came from England 
that very day, bringing fresh supplies and 
one hundred twenty new colonists. What a 
welcome they received ! The little Indian maid 
Pocahontas also came with a band of Indian 
braves, bringing baskets of corn, wild fowl, 
and other kinds of food. 

The next summer Smith made another 



JOHN SMITH 35 

voyage, this time going up the Chesapeake as 
far as the Susquehanna. Here he met a large 
body of Mohawk Indians, proud and haughty 
warriors of the North, and saw a large fleet of 
their canoes on the bay. He continued his 
voyage far up the Potomac River. 

JOHN SMITH MADE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL 

Returning to Jamestown, Smith was made 
(September, 1608) president of the council, 
and thus became the leading man in the colony. 
Order and industry came with his rule. "He 
who will not work may not eat," said he, and 
the soft-handed "gentlemen," knowing that 
Smith meant what he said, learned to chop 
wood. Every one worked six hours a day and, 
as you might expect, brighter days came. 

Still troubles were not over. Powhatan, 
alarmed by the coming of so many more settlers, 
began to fear that his people would be driven 
from their hunting-grounds. So he thought 
out a way to kill off the Englishmen without 
putting himself in too much danger. He re- 
fused to give them corn, believing that they 
would starve. 



36 OUR PATRIOTS 

But Smith had come to understand the 
Indians and knew that the settlers must make 
a brave stand. So with about forty men, well 
armed, he made his way to Powhatan's village 
and said in a firm voice: "We must have corn." 

At first Powhatan pretended that the In- 
dians had none, but as Smith repeated his de- 
mand the wily old chief said: "I will give you 
corn if for every basketful you will give me an 
English sword." 

But Smith knew better than to give swords 
to the Indians. "No," he said, "I have no 
swords and guns for you, but we must have 
corn." And the Indians were compelled to 
carry it on board his boat. 

Powhatan then pretended to be friendly, 
but in his heart he was planning to murder 
Smith and his men that night, for he knew that 
because of the low tide the boat could not leave 
for several hours. 

Again little Pocahontas proved herself the 
whit-e men's friend, for at the risk of her life 
she came in the darkness to warn them of their 
danger. Smith was on his guard and the next 
morning all sailed away unharmed. 



JOHN SMITH 37 

Thus Smith, sometimes by friendliness and 
sometimes by force managed the Indians. 

smith's loyal service to JAMESTOWN 

Another trial arose, not from the conditions 
in the new land, but from the vain dreams of 
the London Company that each vessel which 
took colonists to Virginia should come back 
laden with gold. The Company were spending 
vast sums of money, and they were looking 
impatiently for a return. 

At one time a gold-seeking expedition for 
several weeks went up the river, using up large 
stores of much-needed provisions, besides wast- 
ing the time of one hundred twenty men. 
Smith saw clearly that it was best to give up 
these useless journeys. "Nothing comes but by 
labor," said he. 

Besides the exploring trips we have men- 
tioned, Smith made others of value. In one 
of his voyages along the Atlantic he visited the 
spot where later the Plymouth colonists landed. 
He made the first map of this region and named 
it New England. 

It was owing to John Smith's courage and 



38 OUR PATRIOTS 

good sense that the Virginia colony lived through 
those first hard experiences. He was wise and 
firm. He knew how to deal with the Indians 
and how to make the idle work. His energy 
and his love for daring adventure well fitted 
him for the difficult task of settling a new coun- 
try. 

He sought neither freedom of religion nor 
government by the people. Yet in following the 
romance of his nature he gave himself freely 
in loyal service to the founding of Jamestown. 

SOME THINGS TO THINK ABOUT 

1. Tell about the sufferings of the Jamestown settlers. 

2. In what way did little Pocahontas save John Smith's life? 

3. How did he manage the Indians, and also the settlers ? 

4. How did he show his loyalty to Jamestown? For what do 

you admire him ? 



CHAPTER VII 

THE BALTIMORE FAMILY AND THE SETTLEMENT 
OF MARYLAND 

Among the people in England who were 
having a hard time because they were unwilling 
to obey the laws about public worship were 
the Catholics. Some were fined, and some put 
into prison. They suffered so much on account 
of their religion that one of their number, George 
Calvert, Lord Baltimore, resolved to plant a 
settlement in the New World, where they could 
be free to worship God in their own way. 

Being a personal friend of King James, it 
was easy for him to get permission to plant 
such a colony in New-found-land. But as it was 
too cold there for the settlers, they remained 
only a single winter; and Lord Baltimore then 
got the consent of the new King, Charles I, to 
plant a colony in the land lying north of the 
Potomac. 

Before he could carry out his plans Lord 
Baltimore died; but his son, the new Lord 

39 



40 OUR PATRIOTS 

Baltimore, took up the work of planting a 
Catholic settlement in the New World. By 
the King's request, the colony was to be named 
Marjdand, in honor of the Queen, Hen-ri-et-ta 
Ma-ri-a. 

In November, 1633, the company, made 
up of twenty "gentlemen" and three hundred 
laborers, sailed from England in two ships. 
They were well supplied with food, tools, and 
other things needed in a new country. Lord 
Baltimore himself bearing most of the cost, 
which was equal to nearly a million dollars of 
our money to-day. 

After a voyage of more than three months 
and a stay of eight or nine days for rest at Point 
Comfort in Virginia, they reached the Potomac. 
Near its mouth, on a little wooded island, they 
planted the cross as a sign that it belonged to 
a Catholic people. 

The settlers were charmed with the beauty 
of the land — with its broad rivers, fertile plains, 
and wooded hills. The strange trees, the wild 
grape-vines, the flocks of wild turkeys, and the 
birds of bright colors — all these delighted the 
newcomers. 



THE BALTIMORE FAMILY 41 

Friendly Indians, crowding the river banks, 
gazed in wonder at the huge ships, scooped, they 
thought, Hke their canoes, out of single tree 
trunks. They wondered where such great trees 
could grow. 

THE CATHOLIC SETTLERS IN MARYLAND 

Sailing a few miles up the Potomac, the 
settlers entered a broad bay, near the head of 
which was a good landing. They chose this 
for their first settlement, and called it Saint 
Mary's. 

The settlers bought a tract of land from 
the Indians, paying for it with steel hatchets, 
hoes, and pieces of cloth. These Indians seemed 
glad to have the white strangers dwell in their 
country and allowed the settlers to plant at 
once in the lands already cleared for their own 
corn-fields. 

The Indian braves helped the white men in 
their work, and the squaws taught the white 
women how to bake "pone" and to fry "hom- 
iny" — two dishes which were new to the settlers. 
When later the Indians came to the settlement 
with wild turkeys and other food, they received 



42 OUR PATRIOTS 

a fair price and often spent the night with the 
white men, without fear on either side. 

But even though the Indians were friendly, 
the colony had its troubles. Its neighbors, the 
colonists of Virginia, claimed the land where 
the Ma-ry-land-ers had settled and were angry 
at them for taking it. They disliked, also, to 
have a Catholic colony so near to them. 

In time, however, this trouble passed over. 
Lord Baltimore made people of all Christian 
faiths welcome, and every one might worship 
as he pleased. Many came from the other 
colonies of the New World, as well as from Eng- 
land. 

The climate, also, was mild, and the soil 
fertile. So the settlers were successful and con- 
tented in their new homes. 

You see in all we have said about Maryland 
the work of two patriotic men. The first Lord 
Baltimore desired to plant a colony where a 
group of his fellow Catholics should be free to 
worship God in their own way, without fear of 
being punished for doing what they believed 
to be right. The second Lord Baltimore was 
quite willing to allow other Christian men and 



THE BALTIMORE FAMILY 43 

women to come into this Catholic settlement 
and attend any church they might choose for 
themselves. Both men helped in the cause of 
freedom. 

SOME THINGS TO THINK ABOUT 

1. Why did the first Lord Baltimore wish to plant a settle- 

ment in the New World ? 

2. How did the second Lord Baltimore help out the Catholic 

settlers he sent over to America? 

3. In what ways did the Indians show their friendly feeling 

for the newcomers ? 

4. In what ways did the first and the second Lord Baltimore 

help in the cause of freedom? 



CHAPTER VIII 

HENRY HUDSON 

Among the people of the Old World who 
were waking up to new ideas of liberty and 
freedom were some who were not at that time 
suffering any hardships of religion or govern- 
ment, but were seeking more freedom in other 
ways. The Dutch, for instance, who had long 
been a seagoing people, were thrifty traders. 
They were seeking a share in the riches of the 
New World and, also, a short route to India. 
It was for this purpose that they employed 
Henry Hudson, a bold and skilful sea-captain, 
to make the voyage that gave them a place in 
free America. 

About two years after the settlement of 
Jamestown, he sailed, trying first to make a 
northeast passage through the Arctic Sea; but 
finding that way blocked with ice, he changed 
his course toward the west and south. Reach- 
ing the Atlantic coast, he touched the shores 
of the New World in several places. 

44 



HENRY HUDSON 45 

Arriving near the mouth of the James River, 
then coasting along to the north, he entered a 
broad inlet which he thought might be a passage 
through America. It proved to be what we 
now .call the harbor of New York. There, in 
September, 1609, he cast anchor. 

His mate gives a lively picture of what hap- 
pened there. According to his account, the 
Indians came on board, "seeming very glad of 
our coming," and bringing green tobacco, which 
they exchanged for knives and beads. Some 
were dressed in mantles of feathers and some 
in furs. "Some women, also," he adds, "came 
to us in hemp," wearing "about their necks 
things of red copper." 

About ten days later, Hudson sailed again, 
directing his course northward in his little vessel, 
the Half Moon, still looking for the Northwest 
Passage, or the short water route to the Pacific 
Ocean. 

He went only as far as the place where Al- 
bany is now, for it became plain to him that 
this was a river and not a strait after all, and 
he turned back toward the open sea. The high 
banks on either side led Hudson to call it the 



46 OUR PATRIOTS 

River of Mountains; but it was afterward 
named Hudson for him. 

HENRY HUDSON AND THE INDIANS 

During this voyage on the river he saw many- 
Indians. At some places they sent flights of 
arrows from the shore, and other bolder ones 
shot out in canoes, swarming around the boat. 
When the arrows were answered by bullets, the 
Indians turned and fled. 

But some were friendly, and one old Indian 
chief came out in his canoe to invite Hudson 
to his wigwam. Hudson went, and was sur- 
prised to find a well-built, circular house of 
oak bark, with an arched roof. Food was served 
for him in red wooden bowls; and as a special 
honor to their guest the Indians shot two 
pigeons with their bows and arrows, and also 
killed a fat dog which they skinned with shells. 

But Hudson could not remain with the 
chief overnight to enjoy the feast which was to 
be made ready for him. He returned in a few 
hours down the river. At other places, as in the 
harbor, the natives came aboard and sold small 
skins for trifles. 



HENRY HUDSON 47 

Henry Hudson sailed back to Europe with- 
out having found the Northwest Passage. But 
he had done something far greater. He had 
started the fur trade with the Indians, which 
brought the Dutch to America; and -he had 
also found the best seaport on the shores of the 
Atlantic. 

NEW NETHERLAND BECOMES NEW YORK 

The Dutch made friends with the Indians, 
and round the trading-post on Manhattan 
Island, New Amsterdam, there rapidly grew 
up the thriving colony of New Netherland. 
People flocked there from many countries, for 
trade was profitable and all religions were al- 
lowed. 

Settlements spread along the rivers and 
around the harbor. Dutch governors came 
and went, brave old Peter Stuyvesant being 
the last of them. After him came an English 
government under the Duke of York and New 
Netherland became New York. 

But the passing of the Dutch governors 
did not mean the end of what the Dutch settlers 
had brought to America. Many of their names 



48 OUR PATRIOTS 

and customs have come down through well- 
known families and still live with us to-day. 

Our great city of New York is very little 
like the peaceful region which Henry Hudson 
saw as he lay at anchor in the mouth of the 
river. If he could have been given a glimpse of 
the towering buildings that now surround that 
busy harbor, he would have known that his 
voyage was very far from being a failure ! Yet 
he did not need to foresee all this, for even in 
the face of hardship and dangers and what 
seemed failure, he stuck to his task, and thus 
did a lasting service to New Netherland and to 
America. 

SOME THINGS TO THINK ABOUT 

1. What was Henry Hudson seeking in his voyage to America? 

What did he find ? 

2. Tell about some of his experiences with the Indians. 

3. In what way did his voyage prove of great value to the 

Dutch? 

4. What do you admire about him? How was his service of 

lasting value to America? 



CHAPTER IX 

WILLIAM PENN 

About fifty years after the Pilgrims and 
Puritans went to New England, there was an- 
other body of worshippers in England who 
were having a hard time because they insisted 
on their own way of worship. They called 
themselves Friends. By others they were nick- 
named Quakers. 

Some of their customs were new and strange. 
For instance, they would not go to war, nor 
pay taxes to support war, because they believed 
it was wrong to fight. And because they be- 
lieved all men were equal, they would not take 
off their hats to any man, even to the King. 

One of these Quakers, William Penn, was 
a rich man, and the son of a powerful admiral. 
He saw that the only way for his Quaker friends 
to have peace was to make their home in the 
New World, as others had done who suffered 
for their religion. 

49 



50 OUR PATRIOTS 

As the Quakers were poor, he used his own 
large fortune to carry out his plan. It hap- 
pened that King Charles II owed him $80,000. 
For a King who liked to spend money as well as 
Charles II did, this was a big debt to pay. But 
there was something Penn wanted more than 
money, and he proposed to the King a way to 
settle the debt without having to pay out a 
penny. 

"Will you give me land in the New World 
instead of money .^" he asked. 

"Willingly," said the King. 

You see that the land had cost the King 
nothing, and giving up claim to it meant very 
little. So he set off for Penn a large tract lying 
west of the Delaware River. King Charles II 
was so well pleased with this easy payment of 
his debt that he courteously named the land 
Pennsylvania (meaning Penn's woods). This 
was in 1681. 

penn's QUAKER COLONY 

In the same year, a colony of about three 
thousand Friends, rejoicing to escape from 
their dangers and sufferings in England, went 



WILLIAM PENN 51 

to the New World and settled on the banks of 
the Delaware, 

In October of the next year, Penn himself 
left England to join his colony. On his ship 
were one hundred passengers, most of them 
Quakers who had been his neighbors in Eng- 
land. Imagine the quick beating of their hearts 
when they reached the colony and were wel- 
comed with shouts of joy that came not only 
from the Quakers who had preceded them, but 
from the Swedes and Dutch among whom these 
Quakers had settled. 

A little later they sailed up the river until 
they came to the mouth of the Schuyl-kill 
(Skoll'kill) River, where a new city was to rise. 
The plan of the city was simple. The streets 
were to cross each other at right angles, and 
were named Pine, Spruce, Chestnut, Cedar, 
and so on, after the trees that were blazed in 
the forest to show where these streets should lie. 

Penn named the city Philadelphia, which 
means "City of Brotherly Love." The name 
showed the kindly feeling which Penn had for 
the settlers and which he wished them to have 
for one another. 



52 OUR PATRIOTS 

WILLIAM PENN AND THE INDIANS 

Penn's own loving spirit overflowed even to 
the Indians. He paid them Hberally for the 
land, although he had already paid the King 
a large sum ; for he believed that the Indians had 
rights, and he wished to deal fairly with them. 

This purchase of land was made very im- 
pressive at a council meeting under the branches 
of a spreading elm, where Penn said to the red 
men: 

"The friendship between you and me is 
not like a chain, for the chain may rust; neither 
is it like a tree, for the falling tree may break. 
It is as if we were parts of one man's body. We 
are all one flesh and blood." 

These were beautiful words and they showed 
plainly the kindness which the great Quaker 
leader felt toward the men of the forest. Their 
hearts responded, and they said: "We will live 
in love and peace with William Penn as long 
as the sun and moon shall last." 

Penn often met the Indians and visited in 
their cabins, and the rulers of the colony and 
the natives kept their faith with one another. 



WILLIAM PENN 53 

The poor savage people believed in God, they 
said, and they would teach them their rights 
as men. 

In the next few years, settlers from many 
countries came in large numbers to Pennsyl- 
vania, falling easily into the quiet, prosperous 
life of the colony. People liked to live where 
the laws were wise, and where they could be 
free to worship as they pleased. 

It was the law of kindness and the love of 
freedom, not only for his Quaker friends, but 
for all men, which guided William Penn in plant- 
ing the colony that became in time the great 
State of Pennyslvania. 

SOME THINGS TO THINK ABOUT 

1. Why did William Penn wisli to plant a Quaker settlement 

in the New World ? How did he treat the settlers ? 

2. Tell what you can about the meeting between Penn and 

the Indians under the elm-tree ? Why were they friendly 
to him ? 

3. Why did people like to live in Pennsylvania ? 

4. In what ways did William Penn show his loyalty and pa- 

triotism ? 



CHAPTER X 

JAMES OGLETHORPE 

In the days when America was being settled 
by peoples who sought religious freedom, there 
were men in England who were suffering from 
other troubles than those brought about by 
their religious beliefs. 

At that time the laws about debt caused 
great and hopeless misery. When a man could 
not pay what he owed, he was put in prison, and 
if he had no friends to get him out, he might 
stay there the rest of his life. Indeed, many 
died in a short time from starvation, filthy 
quarters, and despair. 

Among the rich men of high birth who lived 
in England at this time was James 0-gle-thorpe, 
a brave soldier and noble, kind-hearted gentle- 
man. He resolved to do something to help 
these poor men, who in many cases were not 
dishonest but victims of hard and unwise laws. 

His plan was to set the most worthy free, 
after getting their debts paid, if they would 

54 



JAMES OGLETHORPE 55 

agree to come with him to America, where he 
beHeved they could begin over again and make 
their hves more successfuL 

Besides his wish to help these poor men, 
James Oglethorpe had another purpose in mind. 
He thought that by planting a colony far to 
the south strong enough to ward off attacks 
from the Spaniards who had settled in Florida, 
he would be serving his country as well. 

He carried out his plan, and early in 1733 
with his company of men, he reached the south 
coast of North America and chose a high bluff 
near the banks of a river as a place of settle- 
ment. He called the settlement Savannah, 
after the beautiful Indian name for the river, 
and named the colony Georgia in honor of King 
George II, who had granted him the land. 

At first Oglethorpe made his home in a tent, 
sheltered by four beautiful pine-trees, and there 
he lived for more than a year. 

Like Penn, he treated the Indians fairly, 
and thus won their friendship. 

As a token of good feeling, one day they 
handed him a buffalo-skin, on the inside of 
which was a picture of the head and feathers 



56 OUR PATRIOTS 

of an eagle. "Here is a little present," they 
said: "The feathers of the eagle are soft, and 
this means love. The skin of the buffalo is 
warm, and this means protection. Therefore 
love and protect our people." 

Such was the beginning of a lasting friend- 
ship between Oglethorpe and the Indians. They 
were friendly to him because he was just and 
kind to them. They lived in peace with him, 
just as the Indians farther north lived in peace 
with William Penn. 

He tried hard to be fair in his dealings with 
the settlers also. But they did not like his way 
of governing, because they were not allowed 
any share in making the laws. 

There were other things they did not like. 
No rum could be made or sold in the colony, 
nor could the colonists have any negro slaves. 
Although Oglethorpe had good reasons for the 
stand he took on these questions, the settlers 
were not satisfied. They declared that they 
needed the rum, and that the climate was so 
hot and bred such fevers that they must have 
negroes to do the work. 

In the course of years the colonists were 



JAMES OGLETHORPE 57 

allowed to have their way in these matters and 
to make their own laws. 

Before that time came, however, Oglethorpe 
returned to England, greatly disappointed be- 
cause there had been so much ill feeling toward 
him among the colonists. 

But James Oglethorpe knew that his mo- 
tives were right. He had unselfishly given 
up comfort and ease in old England for un- 
ending care and labor in the New World, in 
order that he might give to the oppressed the 
opportunity to make the most of their lives 
and might serve his fellow countrymen in 
America. 

Although this colony did not at once prove 
to be all that Oglethorpe had hoped, better 
days came with the coming of better men, and 
it lived to take its part as one of the thirteen 
colonies that made the United States of America 
a free and independent nation. 

SOME THINGS TO THINK ABOUT 

1. Wliat was Oglethorpe's plan? 

2. How did he treat the Indians, and how did they feel toward 

him ? 

3. Why were the settlers in the Georgia colony dissatisfied? 

4. What do you admire about James Oglethorpe? 



CHAPTER XI 

PATRICK HENRY 

"George, be King," said the mother of 
George III, when he was crowned. She meant: 
"Let no one tell you what to do." These words 
had a pleasing sound to the young ruler, then 
only twenty- two years old, for he wished to 
have his own way as King. He cared little for 
the rights of the people, either in England or 
in America, because the more power they had, 
the less he would have. 

But the people did not take kindly to his 
high-handed ideas. There were many, both in 
England and in the American colonies, who 
were resolved to oppose them rather than give 
up the rights of free, liberty-loving men. 

After the last French War ended, George III 
wished to send to America a standing army of 
at least ten thousand men. He brought the 
matter before the English Parliament, saying: 
"The army is to protect the land from the French 

58 



PATRICK HENRY 59 

and from Indian uprisings. Why, then, should 
not the colonists help pay for its support?" 

Parliament, being made up largely of the 
King's friends and willing tools, was quite ready 
to do whatever he wished, and passed a law 
taxing the colonies for that purpose. The law 
was called the Stamp Act because it required 
the colonists to put stamps — varying in cost 
from one cent to fifty dollars — upon all their 
newspapers and upon such legal papers as wills 
and deeds. 

The passing of this law made the colonists 
angry, and they were loud in their complaints 
against it. They said: *'We care nothing about 
the amount of the tax, but we do care about 
paying money which we have had no share in 
voting. 

"We Americans are as free as the men in 
England. In that country it is the law that 
no freeman shall pay taxes unless they are levied 
by those who represent him in Parliament. 

"Since we have no one to speak for us in 
Parliament, we stoutly refuse to pay taxes 
which Parliament votes. The only taxes we 
will pay are those voted by our own representa- 



60 OUR PATRIOTS 

tives in our own colonial assemblies. If we 
pay taxes which are laid on us without our con- 
sent, we are slaves. 

"Besides," they added, "we believe the 
King is sending the army over here to compel 
us to do just as he says." 

One of the strongest opposers of the Stamp 
Act was Patrick Henry, a young lawyer of Vir- 
ginia but little known outside of his own county 
until he was elected a member of the Virginia 
House of Burgesses, a body not unlike our State 
Legislature. 

We have a vivid picture of young Henry 
at that time as he entered Williamsburg, then 
the capital of Virginia, to take his seat for the 
first time in this assembly. 

He rode on a lean horse, carrying his papers 
in a pair of saddle-bags. He was young, only 
twenty -nine years old, tall and thin, with stoop- 
ing shoulders. His face had a set look, and 
there was a twinkle in his small blue eyes. He 
wore a brown wig, a peach-blossom coat, leather 
knee-breeches, and yarn stockings. One meet- 
ing him would hardly have seen under his rough 
appearance a great leader of men. 



PATRICK HENRY 61 

GREAT EXCITEMENT ABOUT THE STAMP ACT 

As he rode into the little town of Williams- 
burg, he found great excitement. People were 
standing in groups along the street and talking 
in anxious tones. 

"What shall we do about the Stamp Act?" 
they asked. "Shall we tamely submit to it, as 
if in fear of the English King.^^ Shall we beg 
Parliament to repeal it.^ Or shall we take a 
bold stand and say that we will not obey 
it.?" 

In the House of Burgesses, also, there was 
grave discussion. Most of the members were 
wealthy planters and owners of large estates. 
What they thought had great weight in the 
colonies. These men spoke of England as the 
"Mother Country." They were loyal to her, 
and wished to settle all disagreements as peace- 
ably as possible. 

So they said: "Let us do nothing rash, but 
let us move slowly and carefully. Let us ask 
the King to make changes in the laws that we 
think unjust, and then, if he will not listen, it 
will be time for us to refuse to obey." 



62 OUR PATRIOTS 

Patrick Henry, the new member, sat quietly 
in his seat, following closely all that was said. 

A THRILLING SPEECH 

But he could not agree with these older 
men. To him delay meant danger. The free- 
dom of his countrymen was at stake. Some- 
thing must be done and done at once. Upon 
a blank leaf torn from a law-book, he hastily 
wrote some resolutions, and then, rising to his 
feet, he read them to the assembly. 

The rather awkward-looking young man, 
badly dressed, was in striking contrast to the 
prosperous planters with powdered hair, ruffled 
shirts, knee-breeches, and silver shoe-buckles. 

When the new member began in quiet tones 
to read his resolutions, these gentlemen looked 
at him with great indifference, as if they would 
say: "Who cares what this presuming fellow 
thinks.'^ Who is he, anyway, and why should 
he be so bold as to tell us what is best to 
do.?" 

But as they listened, their scorn changed 
to breathless interest; for the speaker's eyes 
began to glow, his stooping figure straightened, 



PATRICK HENRY 63 

and his voice rang out clear and strong. They 
leaned forward to catch his every word. 

"The General Assembly of Virginia, and 
only the General Assembly of Virginia,'" he ex- 
claimed, "has the right and power to lay taxes 
upon the people of this colony." 

These thrilling words fell like a thunderbolt 
upon the startled audience. No one had dared 
voice such thoughts in public before. 

An excited debate followed, in the course of 
which Patrick Henry, blazing with indignation, 
cried: "Caesar had his Brutus, Charles the 
First his Cromwell, and George the Third . . ." 

"Treason! treason!" interrupted angry 
voices, for Caesar and Charles I had both been 
put to death. 

Pausing a moment, the young orator calmly 
and fearlessly added, "may profit by their ex- 
ample. If this be treason, make the most of 
it." 

Patrick Henry was more than a match for 
all those older men of affairs. His wonderful 
eloquence carried the day, and his resolutions 
were passed. 

It was a great triumph for the cause of liberty 



64 OUR PATRIOTS 

and for its leader. "Stick to us, old fellow, or 
we're gone," said one of the plain people, as 
he was going out of the door at the close of the 
session. 

In the same doorway, that day, there had 
stood, intently listening, a tall, slim young man, 
with a thoughtful, scholarly face. His name was 
Thomas Jefferson. We shall hear of him later. 

Not only in Virginia, but in other colonies 
also, Patrick Henry's fiery words acted like 
magic in uniting the people against the Stamp 
Act. 

FRIENDS OF THE AMERICANS IN ENGLAND 

Even in England there were many leading 
men who were against it. They saw that 
George III was making a huge blunder in try- 
ing to tax the colonies without their consent. 
William Pitt was one of these. He was the 
ablest man in the House of Commons and the 
most powerful English statesman of his time. 
In a great speech, he said: 

"I rejoice that America has resisted. The 
Americans have been wronged ! They have 
been driven to madness by injustice!" 



PATRICK HENRY 65 

Edmund Burke and Charles Fox, other 
great statesmen, were also our friends and were 
outspoken against the course George III was 
taking. In fact, the greater part of the English 
people were fair-minded and believed it wrong 
to require the Americans to pay taxes which 
they had had no share in voting. 

So strained was the feeling in both countries 
and the loss of trade to English merchants so 
heavy that the Stamp Act was repealed about 
a year after it had been passed. 

Great was the rejoicing in the colonies. If 
George III had been content to let matters 
rest, history might have been very different. 
But he could not be satisfied until he had had 
his way. 

ANOTHER GREAT SPEECH 

Nine years later, the people of Virginia 
were again deeply roused. King George had 
caused soldiers to be sent to Boston to force 
the people there to obey his commands, against 
which they had rebelled. Because Virginia 
had stood by her sister colony, the royal governor 
of Virginia had forbidden the House of Burgesses 
to meet at Williamsburg. 



66 OUR PATRIOTS 

But the Virginians were not to be overcome 
in that way. Grimly determined to defend 
their rights as freemen, they elected some of 
their leaders to act for them in their day of 
trial. These men, among whom was Patrick 
Henry, met in Richmond, in old St. John's 
Church, which stands to-day as a monument of 
that historic gathering. 

It was a critical hour in the life of Virginia. 
Thoughtful men were very serious, for the war- 
cloud was growing blacker every hour. The 
people of the colony were already preparing to 
fight if they must. But many still hoped that 
war might be avoided, and advised moving 
slowly and with caution. 

Patrick Henry saw no wisdom in such policy. 
Believing in prompt and fearless action, he 
stood up in this meeting and offered a resolution 
that Virginia should at once get ready for war. 
Again, as in 1765, many leading men in the 
gathering strongly opposed the resolution as 
rash and unwise. 

As the debate went on, there was great and 
increasing excitement. For some time Patrick 
Henry listened in silence. At length he rose to 



PATRICK HENRY 67 

his feet, and in a voice trembling with deep emo- 
tion, spoke with an eloquence which held the 
audience in breathless stillness. Listen to his 
thrilling words : 

"Sir, we are not weak, if we make a proper 
use of the means which the God of nature hath 
placed in our power. Three millions of people, 
armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such 
a country as that which we possess, are invincible 
by any force which our enemy can send against 
us. Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles 
alone. There is a just God who will raise up 
friends to fight our battles for us. The battle, 
sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, 
the active, the brave. . . . There is no retreat, 
but in submission and slavery ! Our chains 
are forged ! Their clanking may be heard on 
the plains of Boston ! . . . The war is actually 
begun ! The next gale that sweeps from the 
north will bring to our ears the clash of resound- 
ing arms ! Our brethren are already in the 
field ! Why stand we here idle ? What is it 
that gentlemen wish ? What would they have ? 
Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be 
purchased at the price of chains and slavery .^^ 



68 OUR PATRIOTS 

Forbid it, Almighty God ! I know not what 
course others may take; but as for me, give me 
liberty, or give me death !" 

The speaker stopped, his arms raised and 
his eyes ablaze with excitement. The audience 
was deeply moved, and not a single voice was 
raised to oppose him. The resolution passed 
by a large majority. 

Patrick Henry has been called the Orator 
of the Revolution, he had such power to move 
the people by his thrilling speeches. He v^as a 
true patriot, and his burning love of freedom 
leaped with lightning speed to the hearts of 
his hearers. He knew his country was in dan- 
ger, and did all in his power to save her. 
What patriot could do more ? 

SOME THINGS TO THINK ABOUT 

1. Why did Patrick Henry and other patriots oppose the 

Stamp Act? What taxes were they wilUng to pay? 

2. How did the greater part of the people of England think 

about the American opposition to paying taxes which 
had not been laid by the colonial assemblies ? 

3. Tell all you can about Patrick Henry's speech in the House 

of Burgesses. 

4. What did he mean when he said: "Give me liberty, or give 

me death"? 
5 What do you admire about this great orator? 



CHAPTER XII 

SAMUEL ADAMS 

Let us imagine ourselves in Boston about 
the time of the Stamp Act. It is night. The 
town is wrapped in silence as well as darkness. 
Yet, if we should pass through a certain quiet 
street, we might perhaps see in a large, plain 
dwelling one dimly lighted room, and possibly 
the shadow of some one at a desk, writing. It 
is Samuel Adams, whose days are not long 
enough to do all that his active mind plans. 

In town meeting, in colonial assembly, in 
pamphlets, in the press, in the club, or on the 
street, he is always at work with voice or pen, 
talking to people of their rights, and showing 
the way to that liberty of thought and action 
which belongs to all freemen. 

He is a man of medium size, with gray hair 
and keen, gray eyes. His face, usually stern, 
is kindly when he smiles. His clothes are well 
worn, for his only means of support for himself 

69 



70 OUR PATRIOTS 

and his family is the small salary he receives as 
clerk of the Massachusetts Assembly. Besides, 
he does not care about clothes. When they be- 
come too rusty, his friends supply new ones. 

He is especially the friend and teacher of 
the working men, and although he is college- 
bred and of an old family, they trust him as 
one of themselves. In the shipyards, at the 
wharfs, on street corners during the noon- 
hours, wherever working men gather, he can 
be seen explaining the new laws and urging 
the people to stand for their rights as freemen. 

His great power over the people has made 
him dangerous to the British, and they have 
tried more than once to bribe him with some 
office under the King, or to buy him with gold, 
but he has always spurned their offers. "Poor 
as I am," he says, "the King of England is not 
rich enough to buy me." 

Such was the man who led the people of 
Massachusetts in their struggle against the 
King. After the Stamp Act was repealed (1776), 
King George, so obstinate in giving way to the 
Americans, thought up another plan to bring 
them under his yoke. 



SAMUEL ADAMS 71 

The very next year, he persuaded Parlia- 
ment to pass a new law taxing glass, lead, paper, 
tea, and a few other articles imported into the 
colonies. 

"Very well," replied the colonists. "Then 
we will buy no goods from England." Feeling 
against the mother country became very strong. 

This made English merchants, who were 
losing money, beg Parliament to repeal the 
law. 

THE STUBBORN KING AND THE TAX ON TEA 

So at last the stubborn King said: "Parlia- 
ment may take off all the taxes except the one 
on tea. We must keep this tax in order to show 
the Americans that we have a right to tax them." 
And tea-ships sailed for America. 

The King had arranged a plan with the 
tea merchants which would make this tea 
cheaper in America than in England. "Of 
course," he said, "the Americans will buy it 
if it is cheap, and will not think about the 
tax." 

In due time the tea arrived. Then the 
simple-minded George III had a great surprise. 



72 OUR PATRIOTS 

He found out that the Americans would not 
buy taxed tea at any price. They were thinking 
of something much larger than the cost of the 
tea, and that was their liberty. 

In New York and Philadelphia the people 
refused to let the tea be landed, and in Charles- 
ton the people stored it in damp cellars, where 
it spoiled. But in Boston, there was a most 
exciting time, which led to the "Boston Tea 
Party," the strangest tea-party ever known. 

It was on a quiet Sunday morning, while 
the people were at church, that the Dartmouth, 
the first of three tea-ships bound for Boston, 
sailed into the harbor. The news spread like 
wild-fire. It reached the people in the churches. 
Soon the streets were alive with excited crowds. 

Before night, Samuel Adams and other 
leading patriots met and had their plans in ac- 
tion. First they got a promise from the owner 
of the Dartmouth, Benjamin Rotch, that he 
would not land the tea before Tuesday. This 
gave time to spread the news and get the people 
together. 

On Monday morning there was a mass- 
meeting of five thousand indignant men, some 



SAMUEL ADAMS 73 

from near-by towns, at the Old South Church. 
There it was voted that the tea should not be 
landed, but should be sent back to England. 

Thus began a bitter struggle between the 
people, led by Samuel Adams, to prevent the 
landing of the tea, and Governor Hutchinson, 
who upheld England. According to the law, 
if at the end of twenty days the tea had not 
been sent back to England, it could be landed 
by force. Here was a chance for trouble, be- 
cause the tea could not leave the harbor with- 
out permission from the clerk of customs or a 
pass from the governor. 

Eighteen days passed. The nineteenth ar- 
rived, and still the ships were in the harbor. 
It was a critical day in the life of Massachusetts 
and our country. Men, talking angrily and 
shaking their fists with excitement, were throng- 
ing into the streets of Boston from surrounding 
towns. By ten o'clock, over seven thousand 
had gathered in the Old South Church and in 
the streets outside. 

They sent for Rotch, the owner of the Dart- 
mouth. When he told them he could not get 
a clearance from the clerk of customs, they 



74 OUR PATRIOTS 

ordered him to get a pass from the governor, 
and report to them in the afternoon. 

Late in the afternoon, a great throng of 
earnest men again crowded into the Old South 
Church to wait for the return of Rotch. It 
was an anxious time. But while, in deep sus- 
pense, the vast crowd waited, John Rowe asked : 
''Who knows how tea will mingle with salt wa- 
ter .f^" A whirlwind of applause swept through 
the large gathering. 

A FAMOUS TEA-PARTY 

While the meeting still waited, the shadows 
of the short winter day crept on. Darkness 
had followed dusk and candles were lighted 
before the owner of the Dartmouth returned. 
When he appeared, the church was breathlessly 
still. "The governor refuses to give the pass," 
he said. 

An angry murmur arose, but the crowd 
soon became silent, for Samuel Adams, the 
presiding officer, had stood up. Quietly he 
said: "This meeting can do nothing more to 
save the country." 

These words were plainly a signal. Outside 



SAMUEL ADAMS 75 

a war-whoop sounded, and forty or fifty "Mo- 
hawks," men wearing blankets in Indian fashion 
and carrying hatchets in their hands, rushed 
down Milk Street to Griffin's Wharf, where 
the three tea-ships lay at anchor. 

It was bright moonlight, and everything 
could be plainly seen. Having set a guard, 
these orderly "Indians" quickly boarded the 
vessels, broke open the chests, and emptied 
the tea into the harbor. It took them three 
hours. At the end of that time, three hundred 
and forty-two chests of tea had been poured 
into the sea. Its value amounted to $100,000. 

At this tea-party, there was no confusion. 
Many stood on the shore and watched the "Mo- 
hawks" at their work. Yet not a man reported 
to the British officers what he had seen. 

The next morning, while wet tea-leaves lay 
heaped along the shore, the Boston housewives 
cheerfully drank a tea brewed from sassafras 
and pennyroyal ! 

The Boston Tea-Party was a triumph for 
the Boston patriots, and Samuel Adams was 
the greatest patriot of them all. It was he who 
had managed the affair from start to finish, and 



76 OUR PATRIOTS 

led in the struggle against the King. Few 
battles of the Revolution meant so much. 

Samuel Adams was a man who could com- 
pletely forget himself if winning friends for the 
cause of freedom; and he did more than any 
man of his time to arouse the love of liberty 
in the colony. Up to the last, his patriotism 
was earnest and sincere, and his life was one 
of great service to his country. He was per- 
haps the first to look ahead to the time when 
America should be a nation by itself. 

SOME THINGS TO THINK ABOUT 

1. For what did Samuel Adams wish day and night? 

2. "Why did King George beUeve the Americans would pay 

the tax on tea ? 

3. Wliy did they refuse to pay this tax? 

4. What was the Boston Tea-Party ? Imagine yourself one of 

the "Indians" and tell what happened. 

5. What kind of man was Samuel Adams, and what do you 

admire about him ? 



CHAPTER XIII 

PAUL REVERE 

King George, very angry about the Bos- 
ton Tea-Party, sent soldiers over to put down 
"the rebels," as he called them, and he made 
their commander, General Gage, military 
governor of Massachusetts. This was not at 
all to the liking of the colonists, for they were 
constantly under the eye of a British general, 
appointed to carry out the will of the King. 

One of the first acts of the new governor 
was to send home the members of the Mas- 
sachusetts Assembly. The people of the colony 
were no longer allowed to make their own laws. 

But the Americans were not to be treated 
like slaves ! No sooner had the assembly been 
broken up than they appointed a new govern- 
ing body, called the Provincial Congress. 

With John Hancock as its president and 
Samuel Adams as its leading spirit, this con- 
gress began at once to get ready for war. They 
called for an army of twenty thousand men, 

77 



78 OUR PATRIOTS 

and began to collect military stores, such as 
cannon, muskets, powder and ball, and flour, at 
Concord. Everywhere companies were formed 
called ''minutemen." They were to be ready 
at a minute's notice to go wherever they might 
be needed. 

Soon General Gage received orders from 
England to seize John Hancock and Samuel 
Adams as traitors. He knew that these two 
men were staying for a while with a friend at 
Lexington. He had learned, also, through his 
spies, that the minutemen had collected some 
cannon and military stores at Concord, twenty 
miles from Boston, and only eight miles beyond 
Lexington. 

General Gage planned to capture both 
leaders and ammunition in one expedition. 
But he did not catch the colonists napping. 

Thirty young patriots, led by Paul Revere, 
had formed a society to spy out the British 
plans. Always on the watch, these young men 
at once carried the news of any strange move- 
ments to such leaders as Samuel Adams, John 
Hancock, and Doctor Joseph Warren. 

On the evening of April 18, 1775, Revere 



PAUL REVERE 79 

and his friends brought word to Doctor Warren 
that they beheved the British general was about 
to carry out his plan of capturing Adams and 
Hancock at Lexington and of destroying the 
stores at Concord. 

General Gage had forbidden any one to go 
out from Boston that night. But without a 
moment's delay, Doctor Warren arranged to 
send Paul Revere and William Dawes on horse- 
back to Lexington and Concord to warn the 
people. They were to go by different routes, 
with the hope that at least one might escape 
capture by the British mounted officers, with 
whom Gage had carefully guarded all the roads 
leading from Boston. 

Dawes was soon on his way across Boston 
Neck, while Paul Revere went home to leave 
orders for a lantern-signal to be hung in the 
belfry of the Old North Church, to show by 
which route the British forces were advancing, 
"one if by land, and two if by sea." Then, 
booted and spurred, he stepped into a light 
skiff with two friends, who rowed him from 
Boston across the Charles River to Charlestown 
under the very guns of a British man-of-war. 



80 OUR PATRIOTS 

THE MIDNIGHT RIDE OF PAUL REVERE 

On the Charlestown side, a fleet horse was 
brought, and Paul Revere, waiting in the moon- 
Hght, bridle in hand, strained his eyes to catch 
the first glimpse of the signal-lights. At eleven 
o'clock one light flashed forth. Intently he 
gazed. A second light' gleamed out from the 
belfry. "Two if by sea!" he said to himself. 
"The Redcoats are crossing the Charles River 
and will march through Cambridge." 

Not a moment longer did he wait. Leaping 
into his saddle, he sped like the wind toward 
Lexington. Suddenly two British officers sprang 
out, one trying to block his way, and the other 
to take him. Quickly turning his horse, he 
swung into the Medford road and was gone. 
Ten minutes later, he was in Medford, where 
he stopped long enough to warn the captain 
of the minutemen there. 

Again he was off in swift flight, pausing 
only to wake the people at every house along 
the road with his ringing shouts: "Up and 
arm ! LTp and arm ! The regulars are out ! 
The regulars are out!" Then the hoof-beats 
of his flying horse died away in the distance 



PAUL REVERE 81 

He reached Lexington just at midnight. 
The eight minutemen who guarded the house 
where Adams and Hancock were sleeping warned 
him not to disturb the people inside with his 
noise. "Noise!" cried Paul Revere. "You'll 
have noise enough before long. The regulars 
are out !" 

William Dawes sooil joined Paul Revere in 
Lexington, and after taking a little food, they 
started off together to warn Concord. Doctor 
Prescott, a prominent Son of Liberty whose 
home was in that town, went with them. About 
half-way there, a guard of four mounted British 
officers ordered them to halt. Prescott managed 
to escape by making his horse leap a stone wall, 
and rode in hot haste to Concord, where he 
gave the alarm. Paul Revere and William 
Dawes escaped for the moment, but a little 
later both fell into the hands of another group 
of British officers. 

Meanwhile, the British troops, numbering 
eight hundred men, under the command of Colo- 
nel Smith, were marching to Lexington. But 
they had not gone far before they knew by the 
ringing of church-bells, the firing of signal-guns, 
the beating of drums, and the gleaming of bea- 



82 OUR PATRIOTS 

con-fires on the surrounding hilltops that the 
minutemen had been warned. 

Colonel Smith, disturbed by these signs of 
coming danger, sent Major Pitcairn ahead with 
a picked body of troops, in the hope that they 
might reach Lexington before the town could be 
aroused. 

PATRIOTS WILLING TO DIE FOR THEIR RIGHTS 

But the British commander was too late. Al- 
ready the alarm signals had called to arms thou- 
sands of daring patriots, willing to die for their 
rights as freemen. Wakened suddenly from 
sleep, men had snatched their old muskets from 
over the door or fireplace, and, bidding good-by 
to wife and children, were off to the meeting- 
place long since agreed upon. 

Just as the sun was rising. Major Pitcairn 
marched into Lexington. Forty or fifty min- 
utemen stood ready to oppose him. Riding 
up to them, he shouted: "Disperse, ye reb- 
els, disperse!" The minutemen bravely stood 
their ground. Pitcairn gave the order: "Fire !" 
Eighteen minutemen fell to the earth. 

Before Pitcairn's arrival, the British officers 



PAUL REVERE 83 

who had captured Revere and Dawes returned 
with them to Lexington. Commanding Revere 
to dismount, they kept his horse and let him 
go. He ran at full speed to the house in which 
Samuel Adams and John Hancock were staying, 
told them what had happened, and then guided 
them across the fields to a place of safety. 

On their way they heard the guns firing on 
Lexington Common, and the sound so stirred 
the soul of Adams that in joy he cried out: "Oh, 
what a glorious morning is this !" In the sound 
of the guns he heard the coming of liberty. Men 
were standing up for their rights. The first 
battle of the Revolution had been fought. 

Paul Revere's famous midnight ride for his 
country we Americans shall always remember 
with joy and pride. 

SOME THINGS TO THINK ABOUT 

1. For what signal was Paul Revere looking? 

2. Imagine yourself with him on that famous midnight ride 

and tell what happened. 

3. Why did he take this ride? 

4. In what way did he show his patriotism? 



CHAPTER XIV 

THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE 

One of the days of the year to which you 
look forward is July Fourth. On that day you 
"celebrate," and I think most of you know that 
the event you celebrate is the signing of the 
Declaration of Independence, by which our 
country became a nation by itself. We will see 
what events led up to that deed, so glorious for 
our country. 

Let us imagine ourselves in Philadelphia in 
the early summer of 1775. It is now a thriving 
town of thirty thousand, the largest in the 
colonies. 

We notice in the well-kept streets an unusual 
stir. Distinguished strangers are approaching 
and entering a red-brick building, Carpenters' 
Hall, on Chestnut Street. They have come to 
represent their various colonies in the second 
meeting of the Continental Congress. 

Shall we enter with them, and as they take 
up their work try to find some of our old ac- 
quaintances, and perhaps make some new ones ? 

84 



THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE 85 / 



SOME LEADERS IN THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS 

The man acting as chairman is one of the 
two Paul Revere saved by his daring ride to\ 
Lexington — John Hancock. He is young, hand- 
some, rich, of good family, and an earnest pa- 
triot. He presides with ease and dignity and 
seems to be a favorite with all. 

Presently we recognize Samuel Adams. No 
patriotic meeting would be complete without 
this clear-headed thinker and devoted patriot. 

His cousin, John Adams, already well known 
as a brilliant lawyer and debater, is also pres- 
ent. Although he is to become the second 
President of our United States, he does not yet 
know that there will ever be such a nation. 

Standing near John Adams is a man who 
would be noticed in any gathering. He is a 
large, fine-looking gentleman, with long, white 
hair, large, clear eyes, and broad, high fore- 
head. His face is kindly, and his simple, easy 
manner seems to indicate that he has seen much 
of the world. He is Benjamin Franklin, now 
in his seventieth year, a great thinker and 
writer, well known on both sides of the Atlantic. 



86 OUR PATRIOTS 

He has just lately returned from England, where 
he has been in the service of the colonies. 

Patrick Henry, too, is there. He is ten 
years older than when he took his seat in the 
Virginia House of Burgesses, but still a young 
man, showing at times sudden gleams of the 
orator's fire beneath his usually quiet manner. 
His great appeal, "Give me liberty or give 
me death," has become the country's watch- 
word. 

The large, stately man, with grave face 
and courtly manner, is George Washington. 
He is in the uniform of a Virginia colonel. What 
a fine presence and dignified bearing ! How 
unconscious he is of the strong part he is to 
take in the great drama of which we here see 
the opening act ! 

A tall young man with quiet, retiring 
manner, and the face of a scholar and thinker, 
seems in some way familiar. Finally we recog- 
nize him as the one who stood in the doorway 
listening earnestly and responsively to Patrick 
Henry's speech on the Stamp Act ten years 
before. He is a Virginian of wealth and good 
family, a great student of law, and a clear writer. 



THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE 87 

He, too, is to play a large part, about which we 
are to hear presently. 

The others — there are forty or fifty in all — 
are men of importance in their colonies. They 
are lawyers, planters, and merchants. 

The first meeting of the Continental Con- 
gress had been held in Philadelphia six months 
before, in September, 1774. A plan for uniting 
the colonies was then considered. The colonists, 
still thinking of themselves as free-born Eng- 
lishmen, sent a letter to their King, telling 
him of their wrongs and asking him to right 
them. 

What answer do you think came.^^ Still 
greater wrongs ! What a way to treat a high- 
spirited people ! More soldiers were sent over, 
and it was plain that King George would not 
listen to any pleas. 

Then Massachusetts prepared for war, and 
events followed thick and fast. The battle of 
Lexington and Concord was fought. Boston 
was surrounded by minutemen, and Fort Ti- 
conderoga was captured. That was the way 
matters stood when the Continental Congress 
met in Philadelphia the second time (May, 



88 OUR PATRIOTS 

1775). Whether they wished it or not, the 
colonists were at war with the mother country, 
and they must take steps to carry on that 
war. 

AT WAR WITH THE MOTHER COUNTRY 

Plans were made to raise a Continental 
army, and George Washington was made its 
commander-in-chief. 

Yet, after they had gone so far, Americans 
still called themselves English colonists. They 
were fighting only for their rights as free-born 
Englishmen. 

To give a last chance for a peaceful settle- 
ment, Congress sent another letter to the King. 
But King George was so angry that he would 
not listen to the letter. He would not even 
receive the messenger who carried it. 

He called the colonists rebels. He ordered 
ships of war to burn their towns. He at once 
sent to Germany to hire Hessian soldiers to 
make war upon the Americans. 

This was very stupid of King George. He 
thought to frighten the colonists so that they 
would not dare to unite. Instead, he drove 



THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE 89 

them closer together, for they saw they must 
work shoulder to shoulder or else give up their 
freedom. 

THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE ADOPTED 

At first, only a few had thought of becoming 
independent of the mother country. Now it 
seemed to be the only course open. Listen to 
what happened in the Continental Congress in 
the summer of 1776. 

On June 7, Richard Henry Lee, of Virginia, 
rose and moved that the colonies "are and of 
a right ought to be free and independent 
states." 

After long debate, a committee, of which 
Thomas Jefferson is chairman, is chosen to 
write the first draft of this great state paper, 
the Declaration of Independence. Congress 
makes some slight changes, and it is adopted on 
July 4. One by one, the members step forward 
to sign their names. 

When John Hancock, the president of the 
Congress, writes his name in large, bold letters, 
he quietly says: "King George can read that 
without spectacles." Then he adds: "We 



90 OUR PATRIOTS 

must all be unanimous. We must all hang 
together." 

*'Yes," says Franklin, with a flash of his 
quick wit, "or we shall all hang separately." 

These men know full well what signing such 
a paper means. In case of the failure of their 
cause, they will be hanged as traitors. 

After the signing, old Liberty Bell peals 
forth the glad tidings that the United States 
is now a free nation. We are no longer to seek 
or petition King George or his ministers. What- 
ever dealings America and England have here- 
after are to be as between two separate nations. 

It took five years of hard fighting and great 
suffering for the new nation to make good its 
claim. But it had begun the task. July 4, 
1776, was the birthday of our nation. Do you 
wonder that we celebrate it.^ 

SOME THINGS TO THINK ABOUT 

1. Do you know what event we celebrate on July Fourth? 

2. What had we been fighting for before we declared our in- 

dependence of England ? What were we fighting for after 
the Declaration of Independence was signed? How did 
the signers show their patriotism ? 

3. Who wrote the first draft of this great state paper? 

4. What is meant by our mdependence of England? 



CHAPTER XV 

GEORGE WASHINGTON 

When we think of George Washington there 
comes to us, not a picture of the boyhood days 
on a Virginia plantation, nor of the youth can- 
tering along the roadside with his elderly friend, 
Lord Fairfax, seeking pleasure in a fox-hunt. 
We do not think of him either as the young In- 
dian fighter, saving General Braddock's sea- 
soned soldiers, although at that time his name 
was being spoken in the courts of Europe. 

It is as a general, in the strength and vigor 
of full manhood, that we see him, carrying the 
fortunes of a new nation which is fighting for 
independence and free government. As the 
hero of the Revolution and commander-in-chief 
of its army, Washington most completely holds 
our attention. 

He is now in the prime of life, forty-three 
years old, and has been always so active in 
private and public affairs that he has learned 

91 



92 OUR PATRIOTS 

how to control not only himself, but other men. 
That power will be very necessary to him as a 
commander of the army. 

A few days after receiving his appointment 
as commander-in-chief of the Continental army 
(see page 88), Washington was on his way to 
Boston to join the minutemen, who were to 
form the first army. 

He had not ridden far from Philadelphia 
when he met messengers from Bunker Hill, 
who said there had been a battle. 

"Did the men stand fire.^" asked Washing- 
ton. 

"Yes," was the reply. 

"Then the liberties of the country are safe," 
said Washington, and rode on. 

All along the road the people received him 
with warm greetings, and wherever he went all 
eyes followed his noble figure. 

WASHINGTON TAKES COMMAND OF THE ARMY 

He reached Cambridge, and on July 3, 1775, 
under the famous elm-tree, which is standing 
to-day near Harvard University, he drew his 
sword and took command of the American 



GEORGE WASHINGTON 93 

army. Cheers and shouts and the booming 
of cannon followed. 

He was a tall man with fine figure, grave, 
handsome face, courtly manner, and most dig- 
nified bearing. As he sat upon his horse in 
his provincial uniform of buff and blue, wear- 
ing the three-cornered hat with the cockade 
of liberty, and across his breast the broad blue 
silk band denoting his rank, he looked every 
inch a noble gentleman and fearless soldier. 

The army liked and trusted him at once, 
'^^d when Washington came to know his men, 
ue saw in them, untrained and lacking uniforms 
though they were, loyal hearts full of courage 
and endurance, "materials for a good army," 
as he said. 

Washington at once set to work to drive 
the British out of Boston. To do this, he had 
the cannon which had been captured at Ticon- 
deroga dragged on sledges over the ice and 
snow to headquarters. He had small boats 
built to make raids on the British ships for 
ammunition and supplies. He sent messengers 
to villages and towns in all the colonies to col- 
lect powder, and he trained his army. He did 



94 OUR PATRIOTS 

all that could be done during the fall and 
winter days, and in March he was ready to 
move. 

On the night of March 4, under cover of 
darkness and the noise of cannon, Washington 
led his troops and wagon-loads of supplies to 
Dorchester Heights, which overlooked the city 
of Boston. All night he stayed by his men, 
passing back and forth with words of cheer, 
while they put up defenses and placed their 
siege-guns. 

Imagine the surprise and excitement among 
the British the next morning ! With the guns 
of the Americans looking down from the heights 
above them, Boston was no longer safe. They 
left the city March 17, sailing toward Halifax, 
while Washington and his troops marched in 
on the other side, finding more powder and 
ball than the American army had ever seen 
before. 

WASHINGTON GOES TO NEW YORK 

Washington thought that the British, after 
leaving Boston, would try to take New York 
in order to get control of the Hudson River, 



GEORGE WASHINGTON 95 

and thus cut off New England from the other 
colonies. To outwit them, his army must get 
to New York first. And it did ! 

Reaching New York, Washington promptly 
put up as strong defenses as he could, both in 
New York and on Long Island. Dividing his 
army, he sent General Putnam with one-half 
to occupy Brooklyn Heights, while he remained 
in New York with the other half. In all, the 
army consisted of only eighteen thousand men, 
most of them untrained, and all poorly equipped 
with arms and food. 

General Howe soon arrived with thirty thou- 
sand men and a large fleet. 

On August 27, Howe attacked that part of 
Washington's army which was on the Brooklyn 
side, and by his vastly larger numbers defeated 
them. If he had pressed on, he might have 
captured all of Putnam's men and even Wash- 
ington himself, who, during the last of the bat- 
tle, had crossed over from New York. 

But it was late, and he thought the next 
day would do just as well. The British fleet 
lay in the harbor, so how could the Americans 
get away? You see that General Howe was 



96 OUR PATRIOTS 

apt to put off till to-morrow, and that habit 
often was very fortunate — for his enemies ! 

When morning came, a heavy rain was 
falling, and on the day following, a dense fog 
settled down over the island. 

Before noon of the third day, however, three 
American officers riding down to the shore no- 
ticed an unusual stir in the British fleet. Boats 
were going to and fro as if carrying orders. At 
once the officers reported this to Washington. 

"It is very likely," thought Washington, 
"that the British ships are going to sail up be- 
tween New York and Long Island and cut us 
off from the rest of the army." 

WASHINGTON SAVES HIS ARMY 

The situation was one of extreme peril. 
The only thing to do was to secure all the boats 
possible in order to get away that very night. 

It was a desperate undertaking. Ten thou- 
sand men to get across, the river at that point 
nearly a mile wide, and the British encamped 
within gunshot ! It seemed almost impossible. 

But Washington did not hesitate. Without 
a moment's delay — it was then about noon — 



GEORGE WASHINGTON 97 

he sent trusty messengers across the river to 
collect every boat of any sort or size that was 
within reach. By nightfall these were got to- 
gether at Brooklyn ferry and manned by fisher- 
men from Marblehead and Gloucester, every 
one an expert at the sail or the oar, and eager 
to do his best. 

To be ready and yet to keep his secret, 
Washington gave orders to prepare for a night 
attack upon the enemy; and, in order to de- 
ceive the enemy, he directed that the camp- 
fires should be kept burning. 

What a night of swift rowing and anxious 
watching ! We can imagine the stern silence 
of the chief, who looked after every detail till 
the last boat-load was ready to cfoss. Upon his 
wisdom and courage rested the future of a na- 
tion — your country and mine ! As the hours 
went by, he asked himself: "Shall we be able 
to keep our secret from the enemy ^ Or will 
his sentinels discover us and give the alarm .f^" 
How his great heart longed for success in this 
momentous hour ! 

A kind Providence seemed to protect them, 
for a thick mist settled down upon land and 



98 OUR PATRIOTS 

sea that August night, and in the early morn- 
ing it changed to a fog that shrouded East River 
Hke a curtain. 

By seven o'clock every gun except a few of 
the largest and all the powder, food, and other 
supplies had been safely ferried across the 
river. 

Washington's heart was lighter than it had 
been for many days, although for forty-eight 
hours he had known neither rest nor sleep. The 
retreat was as brilliant as it was daring. Wash- 
ington had saved his army. 

On the following morning the British could 
hardly believe their eyes. There was not so 
much as a biscuit left in the American camp. 
Again Howe had been outgeneralled by Wash- 
ington. 

NATHAN HALE, THE MARTYR SPY 

Even after Washington had saved his army 
from capture by making this wonderful escape 
across East River to New York, the outlook 
was one of great peril. The British, you may 
be sure, lost no time in seizing Brooklyn Heights, 
and then only the river separated them from 



GEORGE WASHINGTON 99 

the Americans, while close by in the harbor lay 
the British fleet. 

There was yet grave danger that Howe with 
his greater numbers might capture the army 
and bring the war to a close. 

"I must try to find out his plans," thought 
Washington, "and the best way is to send over 
some trusty and brave man to act as a spy." 
So he called for a volunteer to go inside the 
enemy's lines and get information. 

Now, as you boys and girls know, spying is 
dangerous business, for, if captured, the spy 
will surely suffer death. None but a brave 
and fearless lover of his country would risk his 
life in this way. 

Just such a man came forward in answer 
to Washington's call. It was Nathan Hale. 

"I am ready to go. Send me," he said. 

He was only twenty-three, hardly more 
than a boy, and life was dear to him. Yet he 
loved his country more. 

Washington, much pleased with the noble 
bearing and grace of manner of this young man, 
accepted him for the mission. 

Nathan Hale disguised himself as a Tory 



100 OUR PATRIOTS 

schoolmaster and entered the enemy's Hnes. 
He visited all the camps, taking notes, making 
sketches of the fortifications, and hiding the pa- 
pers in the soles of his shoes. All went well till 
he was about to leave the camp, when he was 
captured. The telltale papers in his shoes proved 
his errand, and he was condemned to be hanged 
as a spy before sunrise the next morning. 

The marshal who guarded him that night 
was a cruel man. He would not allow his 
prisoner to have a Bible, and even tore in pieces 
before the young man's eyes his farewell letters 
to his mother and friends. 

But Nathan Hale was not afraid to die, 
and on that quiet Sunday morning he held 
himself calm and steady to the end. Looking 
down upon the few soldiers who were standing 
near by as he went to his death, he said, "If 
I had ten thousand lives, I would lay them down 
in the defense of my injured and bleeding coun- 
try," and his last brave words were: "I only 
regret that I have but one life to lose for my 
country." Here indeed was a true patriot ! 



GEORGE WASHINGTON 101 

OTHER BITTER TRIALS OF WASHINGTON 

The death of Nathan Hale brought sadness 
to Washington's heart, but it was only one of 
the bitter trials he had to bear in those dark 
hours. 

Washington saw that he could not hold 
New York, for his army was much smaller than 
Howe's and many of his men were new and 
untrained. You see, the term of enlistment 
was short, and when it was over, the men went 
home. So Washington was constantly exchang- 
ing trained soldiers for new recruits. Indeed, 
at times his problem was not only to fight battles, 
but to keep together any army at all ! 

He could not hope to win a great victory, 
but he fought a battle whenever he could, both 
to hold back the enemy and to give his soldiers 
experience. 

Finally, the Americans had to withdraw up 
the Hudson, fighting stubbornly as they re- 
treated. 

Washington, taking part of the army, crossed 
over to the Jersey side, leaving General Charles 
Lee with the rest of it at North Castle. 



102 OUR PATRIOTS 

The British, pressing on, captured two forts 
on the Hudson River, taking three thousand 
prisoners. The outlook was very dark. But 
worse was to follow — treachery in one of his 
own officers. 

To prevent the British from capturing Phila- 
delphia, Washington put his army between 
them and that city. The British began to move 
upon him. Needing every soldier that he could 
get, Washington sent orders to General Lee to 
join him. Lee refused to move. Again and 
again, Washington commanded, but Lee did not 
obey. We now know that Lee was a traitor. 
He basely hoped that Washington would fail 
so that he himself, who was second in command, 
might become commander-in-chief of the Amer- 
ican army. 

WASHINGTON RETREATS ACROSS NEW JERSEY 

In order to save himself and his army from 
capture, Washington had to retreat once more, 
this time across New Jersey toward Philadelphia. 
With the British army, in every way stronger 
than his own, close upon him, it was a race for 
life. Sometimes there was only a burning bridge. 



GEORGE WASHINGTON 103 

which the rear-guard of the Americans had set 
on fire, between the fleeing army and the pur- 
suing forces. 

To make things worse, Washington saw his 
own army dwindHng every day, because the 
men whose term of enKstment had expired 
were leaving for their homes. When he reached 
the Delaware River (December 8), he had barely 
three thousand ragged, weary men left. 

Here again Washington showed himself a 
master. Having collected boats for seventy 
miles along the Delaware River, he succeeded 
in getting his army safely across at a place a 
little above Trenton. This brought the British 
to a halt. General Howe, as we might expect, 
decided to wait for the river to freeze. 

To most people, in England and in America 
alike, the early downfall of the American cause 
seemed to be certain. Said a British officer: 
"I could take a corporal's guard and chase the 
American army all over the continent." Even 
Benjamin Franklin, it is said, began to think 
the American cause hopeless. 

Cornwallis — one of the ablest British gen- 
erals sent over during the war — felt so sure 



104 OUR PATRIOTS 

the war would soon come to an end that he had 
already packed some of his luggage and sent 
it to the ship, expecting in a fortnight to return 
to England. Truly these were "times that try 
men's souls." 

But there were some brave patriots who had 
not lost hope, and the bravest of all was the 
American commander. Others might say, "It's 
no use to fight against such heavy odds. We 
are certain to fail." Not so Washington. His 
courage and energy never failed. Full of faith 
in the cause and in his power to win, if only 
the army would hold on, he watched earnestly 
for the opportunity, which he was sure would 
come, to strike his overconfident enemy a heavy 
blow. 

He had not long to wait. Over the river at 
Trenton was stationed a body of hired Hessian 
soldiers. He planned to surprise them on Christ- 
mas night, when, as he knew, it was their custom 
to hold a feast and revel. 

A GLORIOUS VICTORY AT TRENTON 

With two thousand four hundred picked 
men, he prepared to cross to the Jersey side, 



GEORGE WASHINGTON 105 

at a point nine miles above where the Hessians 
were encamped. The ground was white with 
snow and the weather bitter cold. As the sol- 
diers marched to the place of crossing on this 
winter afternoon, some of them, with feet almost 
bare, left bloody footprints in the snow. 

At sunset they were ready to cross. It was 
a terrible night. Angry gusts of wind and great 
swirling blocks of ice, swept along by the swift 
current, threatened every moment to dash in 
pieces their frail boats. In the dim light a soli- 
tary figure was outlined. It was their general, 
directing in person each detail. 

As the men neared the opposite shore in 
the darkness, shouts were heard from the river 
bank. It was General Knox, who had been 
sent ahead by Washington, to let the struggling 
boatmen know where to land. 

For ten hours boat-load followed boat-load 
in the dangerous crossing. It was four o'clock 
in the morning before the men, already weary, 
were in line to march. Trenton was nine miles 
away, and a fearful storm of snow and sleet 
was beating fiercely in their faces ! Yet they 
marched on ! 



106 OUR PATRIOTS 

General Sullivan discovered that the guns 
were wet, and sent a messenger to tell Wash- 
ington. "Then tell your general," answered 
Washington, "to use the bayonet, for the town 
must be taken !" 

The Hessians were sleeping heavily after 
their night's feasting, with no thought of the 
approaching army. To be sure, a warning had 
come to the Hessian commander that Washing- 
ton was planning an attack; but holding the 
Americans in contempt after their long retreat, 
he laughed and gave little thought to the re- 
port. 

About sunrise, they were suddenly awakened 
from their deep sleep by the firing of guns. They 
rushed from their comfortable beds and seized 
their weapons, but it was too late ! The struggle 
was brief, the victory complete for Washington. 
Most of the enemy were either killed or captured. 
Only two Americans were killed, and two frozen 
on the way. 

It was a glorious victory. Like a gleam of 
light in the darkness the great news shot through 
the States. It brought hope to every patriotic 
heart. The British were amazed and startled 



GEORGE WASHINGTON 107 

at Washington's daring feat. Instead of sail- 
ing for England, Cornwallis advanced post- 
haste from New York with a large force upon 
Trenton, hoping to capture Washington's army 
before it could get away. 

WASHINGTON AND THE BATTLE OF PRINCETON 

At nightfall (January 2, 1777) hardly more 
than a week after the Battle of Trenton, Corn- 
wallis took his stand on the farther side of a 
small creek near Trenton, and thought he had 
Washington in a trap. "At last," said the over- 
confident British general, "we have run down 
the old fox and we will bag him in the morning." 
In the morning again ! How easy it was for 
the British generals to put off ! 

But Washington was too sly a fox for Corn- 
wallis to bag. He knew that his army was not 
strong enough to risk an open battle. During 
the night he left his camp-fires burning to de- 
ceive the enemy. Then, while perhaps Corn- 
wallis was dreaming about victory on the mor- 
row, Washington quietly led his army around 
the British camp, and pushed on to Princeton. 
There he badly defeated the British rear-guard, 



108 OUR PATRIOTS 

and escaped to the heights of Morristown, where 
he took up winter quarters. 

When Cornwallis got up the next morning, 
he saw before him an empty camp. Soon the 
booming of distant cannon on the Princeton 
road told him where the "old fox" had gone. 

The effect of this triumph upon the feeling 
in America was electric. Soldiers had been 
deserting. People had been going over to the 
British side. Congress was losing hope. The 
cause was almost lost. Now a wave of joy and 
confidence swept over the country. New recruits 
came in. The colonies became more united; 
and across the seas foreign nations were saying: 
"England will lose her colonies." 

Washington with his poor, ragged remnant 
of an army had snatched a victory from the 
well-seasoned, well-equipped troops of the con- 
fident enemy. It was his generalship that had 
saved the country. 

VALLEY FORGE 

Perhaps the darkest time of the Revolution 
was the winter following that of which we have 
just read. The war had been going on for more 



GEORGE WASHINGTON 109 

than two years and victory seemed as far away 
as ever. 

Washington passed this winter with his 
army at Valley Forge, a place in the wooded 
hills about twenty miles northwest of Phila- 
delphia. On arriving there early in December 
the army spent the first two weeks in cutting 
down trees and building cabins, so that before 
long a village of log huts, with regular streets, 
had sprung up. 

While the soldiers were building these huts, 
the weather was bitter cold, snow lay on the 
ground, and the men had not enough to eat. 
Their rations were mostly cakes made of flour 
and water, with very small portions of meat 
and bread. There were many times during 
the winter when they had to go even without 
bread. "For some days past," wrote Wash- 
ington, "there has been little less than famine 
in the camp. A part of the army has been a 
week without any kind of flesh, and the rest 
three or four days." 

It was a period of intense suffering. Most 
of the soldiers were in rags, and only a few 
had bedclothing. Blankets were so scarce that 



110 OUR PATRIOTS 

many of the men had to sit up all night hud- 
dled about the fire to keep from freezing; and 
even some who were sick had no beds, or even 
loose straw, to lie upon. 

So many oxen and horses died from starva- 
tion that the carts and wagons which brought 
food and fire-wood into the camp had to be 
drawn by men. Then there came a time when 
they could not get through the deep snow to 
chop wood. Shoes had given out; nearly three 
thousand poor soldiers were barefoot; and many 
had frozen feet. 

To read about what these brave men passed 
through during that wretched winter makes 
one heart-sick. Yet, even though hungry, half 
naked, and cold, they remained patient and 
loyal through all their suffering. 

A beautiful story is told, showing the humble 
faith of Washington during these pitiful times. 

One day, when "Friend Potts," a good 
Quaker farmer who lived close by, was passing 
a wood near the camp, he heard Washington 
praying for help and guidance. On returning 
to his home, the farmer said to his wife: " George 
Washington will succeed; George Washington 




Washington at Valley Forge 

Even though hungry, half-naked, and cold, Washington's troops remained patient 
and loyal through all their suffering 



GEORGE WASHmGTON 111 

will succeed ! The Americans will win their 
independence." 

"What makes thee think so, Isaac?" his 
wife asked. 

"I have heard him pray, Hannah, out in 
the woods to-day, and the Lord will surely hear 
his prayer. He will, Hannah, thee may rest 
assured He will." 

A PLOT AGAINST WASHINGTON 

While the Americans were passing the winter 
in such suffering at Valley Forge, the British 
in Philadelphia were spending the season in 
ease and comfort. Indeed, they were thinking 
so much about their pleasure and amusement 
that they let the winter go by without fighting 
a battle. This, of course, was a good thing for 
the Americans, for they had neither army nor 
supplies to fight with and had trials enough in 
their camp. 

Yet even while carrying the burden of his 
suffering soldiers, Washington himself had a 
bitter trial which none of his officers or soldiers 
could share. This had to do with his command. 

At the approach of the British before Tren- 



112 OUR PATRIOTS 

ton, Congress had gone from Philadelphia to 
Baltimore, and had given Washington full 
power to manage the war. But since Congress 
was so far from the battle-fields, it could not 
know the great difficulties that Washington 
was meeting, and began to wonder why he did 
not win some great victory. 

Then some, who disliked Washington be- 
cause he had not helped on their selfish schemes, 
began to say that he was not a fit man to be 
commander of the American army and put 
forward General Gates to take his place. Gates, 
a weak, vain, selfish man, had been given the 
glory of a victory at Saratoga. But this he did 
not deserve. 

Even Samuel Adams seemed to lose faith 
in Washington, and John Adams thought Wash- 
ington was too slow and cautious. "My toast 
is a short and violent war," he said with strong 
feeling. 

Distrust and criticism, when one is doing 
his best, are very hard to bear. But Washing- 
ton, calm and dignified, went straight on, doing 
whatever he believed to be best for the patriot 
cause, and in the end all came right. The plot 



GEORGE WASHINGTON 113 

failed and the plotters fell into disgrace. Then 
the American people, as never before, realized 
the true worth of the modest but great man 
who was carrying the nation's burdens. 

In time all learned to trust his wise leader- 
ship, and came to see that through him the 
independence of our country was being made 
safe and sure. 

When we think that Washington willingly 
gave up the pleasant life on a Virginian plan- 
tation for hardship and anxiety such as we have 
just read about; that he pledged his own for- 
tune to back a nation without money and with- 
out credit; that he was the object of suspicion 
and plots; that he put aside all ambition for 
liimseK, even refusing any pay for his services; 
that he did all this for the sake of his country; 
we realize something of the splendid nature of 
his patriotism. 

SOME THINGS TO THINK ABOUT 

1. Why was Washington made commander-in-chief of the 

Continental armj^ ? 

2. Where did he take command of the army? Tell all you 

can about his personal appearance and dress at that 
time. 

3. In what way did Washington drive the British out of Bos- 

ton.? 



114 OUR PATRIOTS 

4. Imagine yourself with him on the night when he was mak- 

ing his escape with his army from Long Island, and tell 
what happened. 

5. What did he wish Nathan Hale to do as a spy ? 

6. How did this young man show his patriotism? What do 

you admire in him? 

7. How did Charles Lee show his treachery? Why was he 

unwilling to obey Washington's orders? 

8. What other trials did Washington have at this time? 

9. Tell all you can about the experiences of Washington and 

his men the night before the battle of Trenton. 

10. Describe the sufferings of the patriotic Americans at Valley 

Forge. 

11. What was the plot to injure Washington, and why were 

the plotters against him? 

12. What do you admire about Washington? 



CHAPTER XVI 

JOHN PAUL JONES 

Up to the time of the Revolution, the Amer- 
icans had no navy. They had not needed it, 
for they were under England's protection. 

Very soon after the war began, however, 
Congress saw that it was a great drawback to 
our cause that the British ships could come 
and go as they pleased in American waters, 
and could attack the coast towns. So it or- 
dered thirteen war-vessels to be built. 

The little navy did good work in capturing 
British vessels, many of which were loaded 
with arms and powder, supplies sorely needed 
by Washington's army. 

Among the sea-captains who commanded 
these vessels, the most famous was John Paul 
Jones. He was a native of Scotland, but at 
this time was living in Virginia. 

When the Revolution broke out, he offered 
his services, and Congress appointed him first 

115 



116 OUR PATRIOTS 

lieutenant. He proved himself so skilful and 
brave that he was later made captain of a ves- 
sel called the Ranger, and sent to France. 

At that time English vessels were annoying 
American coasts by burning and destroying 
property. Jones, therefore, got permission from 
Benjamin Franklin, who was then American 
commissioner at the French court, to attack 
British coasts in the same way. 

Sailing from France in the Ranger he cap- 
tured many vessels in the Irish Channel, and 
thoroughly frightened the people all along the 
western coast of England. 

So an English war- vessel, the Drake, with 
more guns and a better trained crew than the 
Ranger had, was sent out to capture her. But 
after a battle of a single hour, it was the Drake 
which surrendered, with the loss of many men. 
The Americans lost only two men killed and 
six wounded. 

A GREAT NAVAL VICTORY 

After this victory the young captain was 
placed in command of a little fleet of four 
vessels. He named his flag-ship Bonhomme 



JOHN PAUL JONES 117 

Richard (Bo-nom Re-shar), after the Richard 
of Poor Richard's Almanac, which Benjamin 
Frankhn had written. 

In this ship he sailed along the eastern coast 
of England, looking for merchant vessels. At 
noon on September 23, 1778, he sighted a fleet 
of forty-two merchantmen guarded by two 
English ships-of-war. At once he decided to 
make an attack. This took place early in the 
evening. The action was mainly between the 
Richard and the English man-of-war Serapis 
(Se-ra-pis), which was a large ship, new and 
swift, and much more powerful than the 
Richard. 

During the first hour the American vessel 
got the worst of the fight and was "leaking 
like a basket." The British captain, feeling 
sure of victory, called out: 

"Has your ship struck .f^" 

Our hero, Paul Jones, shouted back: "I 
have not yet begun to fight." 

As the British vessel came alongside his 
own for a more deadly struggle, Jones seized 
a strong rope and tied them together. Soon 
both were badly leaking, but the fighting went 



118 OUR PATRIOTS 

on as fiercely as ever. Presently both caught 
fire. 

While they were still fighting, the ship's 
doctor of the Richard came to Jones and told 
him that his vessel was leaking so much that 
the wounded were afloat, and asked Jones to 
surrender. 

"What, doctor, would you have me strike 
to a drop of water.?" he said. "Here, help me 
get this cannon over." 

Then, with his own hands John Paul Jones 
turned his cannon upon the mainmast of the 
SerapiSf and when it threatened to fall the 
British captain surrendered. 

The Richard could not have held out much 
longer, for even before the surrender she had 
begun to sink. It was hard to keep her afloat 
during the night, and next morning at ten 
o'clock she went down. 

This was a desperate sea-duel, and it lasted 
from half past seven in the evening until ten 
o'clock. It was important in its results, for 
it won respect for our flag and gave a wonder- 
ful uplift to the American cause. The victor, 
John Paul Jones, was loaded with honors, and 



JOHN PAUL JONES 119 

from that day took rank with the great sea- 
captains of the world. His heroism and his 
loyalty to our country should never be for- 
gotten. 

SOME THINGS TO THINK ABOUT 

1. With what purpose did John Paul Jones sail from France 

in the Ranger? 

2. Tell all you can about the terrible fight between the Richard 

and the Serapis. 

3. What do you admire about John Paul Jones? 



CHAPTER XVH 

GEORGE ROGERS CLARK 

At the time of the Revokitionary War the 
vast region stretching from the Alleghanies to 
the Mississippi was valued by England on ac- 
count of its furs; and English fur- traders here 
wished to keep the land in its wild state so 
that it would continue to be good hunting- 
ground for the Indians. 

Even before the Revolutionary War began, 
however, the rich soil of this Western country 
was tempting American settlers in the sea- 
board colonies to go over the mountains into 
Kentucky and Tennessee and make settlements 
there. The Indians did not like this, because 
the cutting down of the forest-trees and the 
clearing of the land would drive away the wild 
animals and spoil their trade in furs. So they 
became enemies of the settlers. 

The British officer who was in command of 
the Northwest was Colonel Hamilton. From 
his fort in Detroit he sent out orders to the 

120 



GEORGE ROGERS CLARK 121 

Indians to make as much trouble as possible 
for the settlers throughout this region by burn- 
ing their homes and b}^ murdering and scalping 
the people. 

The Indians gladly obeyed, not only be- 
cause they disliked to have settlers come, but 
because the British paid them for every scalp 
they brought to the fort. When, however, 
some of these parties crossed the Ohio and made 
attacks upon the settlements of Kentucky, 
they brought trouble upon themselves and 
quite upset the plans of Colonel Hamilton. 

Clark's brilliant plan 

For among these sturdy men who had gone 
from Virginia to Kentucky was a young sur- 
veyor who had worked out a brilliant plan of 
conquering for his country the vast stretch of 
land north of the Ohio and east of the Missis- 
sippi, the region of the Great Lakes. This man 
was George Rogers Clark. 

He was then about twenty-five years old, 
straight and tall, with ruddy cheeks, sandy 
hair, and honest blue eyes that peered out from 
under heavy, shaggy eyebrows. His strong 



122 OUR PATRIOTS 

body could endure almost any hardship, and 
his splendid health was equalled by his spirit 
of adventure. He was a skilful woodsman and 
had seen something of border warfare. 

In the summer of 1777 he sent out two young 
hunters as spies into the country north of the 
Ohio. Early in October, taking with him the 
reports which they brought back, he started 
on horseback to ride through the forests and 
over the mountains to Williamsburg, the capital 
of Virginia. It took him a month to make 
this journey, a distance of six hundred twenty 
miles. 

The plan which he laid before Patrick Henry, 
then governor of Virginia, was a bold one. It 
was to capture from the British the whole re- 
gion lying north of the Ohio River. Patrick 
Henry at once fell in with it; and Clark was 
made a colonel, with power to raise men and 
gather supplies at Pittsburgh. 

THE CAPTURE OF KASKASKIA 

In May (1778) he was ready to start with 
about one hundred eighty men and a . flotilla 
of boats. His purpose was to attack first the 



GEORGE ROGERS CLARK 123 

British post at Kaskaskia, which was near the 
Mississippi, in what is now the State of Illi- 
nois. 

The men rowed and drifted down the Ohio 
day and night for several weeks. When they 
finally left their boats, they had to walk more 
than one hundred miles across the prairies. On 
reaching Kaskaskia, they surprised the garrison 
and easily took the town. Within a month of 
that time, before the British could gather their 
forces, Clark had captured every post in the 
Illinois country, including the strongest one at 
Vincennes. 

About the middle of December Vincennes 
again fell into Hamilton's hands. Six weeks 
later, as soon as Clark, who was then staying 
at Kaskaskia, learned from an Indian trader 
that the British garrison at Vincennes was 
small, he set out on one of the most daring 
adventures of the war. With only one hundred 
seventy men — nearly half of them Creoles 
(partly Indian and partly French blood) — he 
started from his headquarters at Kaskaskia on 
a journey of more than two hundred forty miles 
to attack the fort. 



124 OUR PATRIOTS 

A PERILOUS MIDWINTER JOURNEY 

It was the first week in February, and a 
sudden thaw had melted the ice and snow, caus- 
ing the rivers to overflow their banks so that 
the meadows and lowlands along their route 
were under water from three to five feet deep. 
For five of the sixteen days spent on the march 
the men had to wade through this water. The 
weather was bitter cold and they were half 
frozen. 

To make matters worse, their supplies gave 
out and the floods had driven off all game. 
For two days there was nothing for these ex- 
hausted men to eat, and many were so gloomy 
over the outlook that they thought of turning 
back. But Clark had not lost courage. Putting 
on a brave face, and trying to treat the mat- 
ter lightly, he laughed and said: "Go out 
and kill a deer!" His cheerful spirit never 
faltered. 

As they neared the end of their journey 
some were so weak that canoes had to be built 
to carry them. When others who were strong 
enough to Wade came to water which was up to 



GEORGE ROGERS CLARK 125 

their chins, they began to huddle together as if 
all hope had fled. Clark could see that if some- 
thing was not done to arouse them, they would 
go down in a stupor. Blackening his face with 
gunpowder, and sounding the war-whoop like 
an Indian, he fearlessly sprang forward into the 
ice-cold water. His men followed him without 
a word. 

Two days afterward they stood before the 
town of Vincennes and demanded its surrender. 
Hamilton at first refused, but as he was with- 
out a fighting force, he had to give up the 
fort. 

Clark's capture of Vincennes was the finish- 
ing stroke of his conquest. He had succeeded 
in one of the boldest plans ever undertaken in 
America. This region never again passed out 
of our hands. 

In carrying out his plans, Clark had not 
only risked his health and his life, but he had 
used up all his property, so that during his last 
years he was a very poor man. 

Led by his own undaunted spirit, he had 
done more with his few brave followers than is 
often given to huge armies to accomplish. It 



126 OUR PATRIOTS 

is hard for us to realize the vastness of his con- 
quest, or to measure the greatness of his ser- 
vice to his country. 

SOME THINGS TO THINK ABOUT 

1. What bold plan did George Rogers Clark work out? 

2. Tell about the journey to Kaskaskia. 

3. Imagine yourself with Clark on his wonderful midwinter 

journey to Vincennes, and tell about your experiences. 

4. What kind of man was he ? In what ways did he show his 

patriotism ? 



CHAPTER XVIII 

FRANCIS MARION 

South Carolina during the later years of 
the Revolutionary War was the centre of bitter 
partisan warfare. By *' partisans" we mean 
private companies of soldiers not belonging to 
the general command, who fought under their 
own chosen leader. 

Such companies were made up by both sides 
(or "parties"), those loyal to the King fighting 
for the British, the patriots fighting for their 
own country. It often happened that families 
were divided — brothers fighting against brothers 
— so bitter was the fighting. . 

This state of affairs came about because 
there was no strong American army in the South 
to protect the people. Some wanted to save 
their large plantations and the ease and comfort 
for which they stood; and others went over to 
the British in fear. For the British threatened 

127 



128 OUR PATRIOTS 

to hang the people as "rebels," if they would 
not fight for the King. 

Those who were too brave to submit were 
angered at the insults of the British, and thus 
it happened that the little "partisan" bands 
of fighters were organized against them. They 
could not fight battles, but they could harass 
their foes by suddenly surprising them, break- 
ing up their recruiting parties, snatching away 
prisoners, and capturing supply-trains and out- 
posts. 

Perhaps, the most noted partisan leader 
was Francis Marion, of South Carolina. He 
was then about fifty years old, fearless in danger, 
though never rash in action, careful for his men's 
lives, but giving little thought to his own, and, 
though small in body, able to endure great hard- 
ships. 

He had been a colonel in the regular army 
and would have been taken a prisoner when 
Charleston surrendered to the British, except 
that he had broken his ankle in an accident, 
and was away on leave. That was a lucky 
chance for the Americans. 

When he recovered from this accident, the 



FRANCIS MARION 129 

British were swarming into South Carolina, 
and he raised and drilled a company of neigh- 
bors and friends, eager to put in their stroke 
against the hated foe. They were known as 
^'Marion's Brigade." 



MARION AND HIS BRIGADE OF PATRIOTS 

These men were without uniforms or tents, 
and served without pay. They did not look 
much like soldiers on parade, but were among 
the bravest and best fighters of the Revolution. 
Their swords were beaten out of old mill-saws, 
at the country forge, and their bullets were 
made largely from pewter mugs and dishes. 
They could go hours without food, and sleep 
on the bare ground. Their rations were very 
scant and simple. Marion, as a rule, ate hominy 
and potatoes, and drank water flavored with a 
little vinegar. 

The story is told that one day a British 
officer came to the camp with a flag of truce. 
Marion, always the true gentleman, invited 
the visitor to dinner. We can imagine the of- 
ficer's surprise when, on a log which made the 



130 . OUR PATRIOTS 

camp-table, there was served a dinner of roasted 
sweet potatoes passed on pieces of bark ! The 
officer was still more amazed to learn that even 
potatoes were something of a luxury. 

Marion's brigade, who were farmers and 
hunters, seldom numbered more than seventy, 
and often less than twenty. But with this very 
small fo'rce, he annoyed the British beyond 
measure. 

One day a scout brought in the report that 
a party of ninety British, with two hundred 
prisoners, was on the march to Charleston. 
Waiting for the darkness to conceal his move- 
ments, Marion with thirty men sallied out, 
swooped down upon the British camp, captur- 
ing the entire force and rescuing all the Amer- 
ican prisoners. 

It was the custom of Marion's men, when 
hard-pressed by a superior force, to scatter, 
each man looking out for himself. Often they 
would dash headlong into a dense, dark swamp, 
to meet again at some place agreed upon. Even 
while they were still in hiding, they would some- 
times dart out just as suddenly as they had 
vanished, and surprise another squad of British 



FRANCIS MARION 131 

near at hand. "Swamp Fox" was the fitting 
name the British gave to Marion. 

"The Swamp Fox" and the brave and hardy 
men who gathered about his standard in the 
South CaroHna swamps were true patriots, 
holding Hghtly their Hves and their money 
in the service of their country. 

SOME THINGS TO THINK ABOUT 

1. Tell about how Marion and his men lived in the woods. 

2. What kind of dinner did Marion give the British officer? 

3. Why was Marion called the "Swamp Fox"? 

4. How did Marion and his men show their patriotism ? 



CHAPTER XIX 

OLIVER H. PERRY 

In twenty years of fighting with France, 
England had lost only five vessels. In about 
six months of the first year of fighting with 
our country, during the War of 1812, she lost 
every one of the six vessels that fought with 
the Americans. Europe was amazed, and the 
Americans were carried away with joy. 

These six British vessels had been losers in 
six naval duels on the sea, that is, when only 
two vessels took part. Then a great naval 
battle between an American and an English 
fleet was fought on Lake Erie. 

The American commander, Oliver H. Perry, 
was a young officer from the naval station at 
Newport. He had been sent in February to 
Lake Erie, with orders to build and man a fleet 
with which to conquer or destroy the British 
squadron on the lake. 

After a hard journey of several weeks 
through snow and ice, travelling chiefly in 

132 



OLIVER H. PERRY 133 

sleighs, he reached the port of Erie about the 
last of March. Everything had to be begun. 
Trees had to be felled on the shores of the lake, 
and vessels made from the green timber. Offi- 
cers and men had to be brought there and 
trained for naval warfare. So much had to be 
done in the making and manning of the fleet 
that no battle could be fought until early in 
the autumn. 

THE BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE 

On September 10, 1813, the two fleets met. 
In strength they were about equal. 

For two hours after the battle began every 
vessel of the British fleet poured its fire into 
the American flag-ship, the Lawrence. Cap- 
tain Perry staj^ed on the ship until her guns were 
dismounted and all but a fifth of his men were 
killed or wounded. 

He saw there was but one way to avoid 
defeat. Quickly jumping into a rowboat, with 
his twelve-year-old brother and four seamen, 
he fearlessly started for the Niagara a vessel 
which stood in the rear and thus far had taken 
little part in the battle. 



134 OUR PATRIOTS 

At once the British turned their guns upon 
the rowboat. A shot crashed through it; then 
an oar was sphntered. But Perry, standing 
erect, flag in hand, still kept straight on in 
his course and reached the Niagara in safety. 
Quickly running up his flag, he gave the signal 
to go close to the enemy and fire at short range. 
In less than a half -hour he forced the British 
captain to strike his colors. 

It was a briUiant victory. On the back of 
an old letter Perry wrote from the deck of the 
Niagara this famous dispatch to the American 
commander of the Northwest: "We have met 
the enemy and they are ours." 

For the first time in her history. Great 
Britain had lost an entire fleet, and, this to a 
young commander of twenty-eight ! Imagine 
the joy that spread over the country, and the 
pride of the Americans in their young navy ! 
Captain Perry became the hero of the hour, 
and great were the honors showered upon 
him. 

More than any other battle of the war, the 
victory on Lake Erie was won by the courage 
and energy of one man. For daring and bravery 



OLIVER H. PERRY 135 

this battle can hardly be matched in the his- 
tory of naval warfare. It gave Captain Perry 
well-earned fame. 

SOME THINGS TO THINK ABOUT 

1. What were some of Perry's difficulties when he reached 

Lake Erie ? 

2. Imagine yourself with him when he was in the little row- 

boat on his way to the Niagara. 

3. How did he show his patriotism? What do you admire 

about him? 



CHAPTER XX 

ANDREW JACKSON 

When the Revolutionary War broke out, 
Andrew Jackson was yet a lad, living in the 
wilds of North Carolina. There was severe 
fighting between the Americans and the British 
near his home, and liltle Andrew, then only 
thirteen, was made a prisoner of war. One 
day, when he was ordered by a British officer 
to clean a pair of muddy boots, Andrew flashed 
back: "Sir, I am not your slave; I am your 
prisoner, and as such I refuse to do the work 
of a slave." 

The fiery little lad, who had such a big idea 
of justice and independence grew up into a 
fearless, energetic man, and it was not a great 
many years before he was himself an officer, 
leading his forces against the Creek Indians 
in the Southwest, the region between the Ohio 
and the Mississippi. 

The following incident is told of this period : 

A soldier, thin and forlorn-looking, ap- 

136 



ANDREW JACKSON 137 

proached General Jackson, who was sitting 
under a tree eating, and, not recognizing him, 
begged for some food, saying he was nearly 
starved. 

"It has always been a rule with me," re- 
plied Jackson, "never to turn away a hungry 
man when it was in my power to relieve him, 
and I will now divide what I have with you." 

Putting his hand into his pocket, he drew 
forth a few acorns, saying: 

"This is the best and only fare that I have." 

The story shows how his love of fair play 
stayed with him, and how he won the confidence 
and affection of his men. 

As an officer he was firm yet kind, and he 
caused his enemies to fear him. In this war 
against the Creeks he conquered them and com- 
pletely broke their power for all time. 

Again he led an army in the War of 1812. 
He was sent, with the rank of major-general, 
to defend New Orleans against an attack of 
the British. 

The British army consisted of twelve thou- 
sand veterans who had taken part in the war 
against Napoleon. They expected to win and 



138 OUR PATRIOTS 

their confidence seemed reasonable, for, besides 
having fought in many battles, they numbered 
twice as many as the Americans. But the fear- 
less spirit and quick action of "Old Hickory," 
as Jackson was fondly called by his men, won 
a great victory. 

Jackson's honesty and patriotism 

As a successful general, Jackson soon be- 
came widely known. His honesty and patriot- 
ism, too, took a strong hold on the people, and 
they elected him President of the United States. 
This was at the time when the feeling between 
the North and the South was becoming very 
tense, and the nation needed a strong leader. 

Andrew Jackson was a man of passionate 
feeling himself, loving his friends and hating 
his enemies with equal warmth. But no one 
doubted his fairness, especially in matters which 
had to do with the good of his country. His 
strong sense of justice and his high ideal of 
duty are well shown by his prompt action when 
the Nullification Act was passed. 

To understand this act and why the South 
passed it, we shall have to know something of 




General Andrew Jackson receiving the plaudits of his army after 
the battle of New Orleans 



ANDREW JACKSON 139 

how matters stood between the North and the 
South in those days; for our nation had grown 
rapidly in the years following the Revolution, 
and had come to include a wide territory. 

WHY THE NORTH AND THE SOUTH DID NOT AGREE 
ABOUT THE TARIFF 

The soil and climate of the South made the 
people there mostly planters, for they could 
make more money by raising cotton, rice, sugar, 
and tobacco than in any other way. 

Of course, on the big Southern plantations 
slave labor was very profitable, and after the 
invention of the cotton-gin (1793), the profits 
in cotton-raising increased enormously. 

In the North, however, there was no place 
for slave labor. Factories had sprung up along 
the streams and rivers and only a small part 
of the people were farmers. Here manufac- 
turing was the chief industry. 

Wliat the North did want very much was 
a tax on goods coming from England, since 
labor was so cheap there that needed articles 
could be made, brought across the ocean, and 
sold at a lower price than American goods could 



140 OUR PATRIOTS 

be sold for. Such a tax, or duty, was called a 
protective tariff, because it protected or helped 
American manufacturers. 

The Southerners did not like this tariff. 
They wished to buy the things they needed — 
such as cheap clothing for the slaves, household 
tools, and farming implements — where they 
could buy them cheapest, which was in Eng- 
land, and the tariff would greatly increase their 
cost of living. 

THE HIGH-TARIFF LAWS AND THE NULLIFI- 
CATION ACT 

There arose bitter opposition, therefore, be- 
tween the North and the South. But in spite 
of it Congress passed a high-tariff law in 1828, 
and another in 1832. 

The people of South Carolina were indig- 
nant, for they believed they were being treated 
unjustly. So some of the leading men met in 
convention and declared: "We here and now 
nullify the tariff laws." By these words they 
meant that the laws should not be carried out 
in South Carolina. This was the Nullification 
Act. 



ANDREW JACKSON 141 

Then they added, in firm and threatening 
language: "If the United States Government 
tries to enforce these laws on our soil, South 
Carolina will go out of the Union and form a 
separate nation" (1833). Here was the be- 
ginning of a long and bitter struggle between 
the North and the South about slavery and 
the tariff. 

President Jackson himself did not favor a 
high tariff, but he was firm in his purpose that 
whatever law Congress might pass should be 
enforced in every State in the Union. When 
the news came to him of what South Carolina 
had done, he was quietly smoking his corn- 
cob pipe. In a flash of anger he cried out: 
"The Union ! It must and shall be preserved ! 
Send for General Scott!" 

General Scott was commander of the United 
States army, and President Jackson was ready 
to use the army and navy, if it should be neces- 
sary, to force any State to obey the laws of 
the land. 

Thus, we see how promptly and decidedly 
Andrew Jackson met this first attempt of a 
State to go out of the Union. Although he 



142 OUR PATRIOTS 

did not like the tariff, yet it was his duty as 
President to defend the Constitution, and he 
did it without a moment's hesitation. Thus 
he fearlessly played his part and did what he 
thought was right and best for the country 
which he deeply and warmly loved. 

SOME THINGS TO THINK ABOUT 

1. What kind of boy was Andrew Jackson? What kind of 

man was he? 

2. Why did the Northern manufacturers wish a tax to be laid 

on things which were made in English factories? 

3. Why were the Southern planters opposed to such taxes? 

4. What did South Carolina do? What stand did Andrew 

Jackson take? What do you admire about him? 



CHAPTER XXI 

DANIEL WEBSTER 
BOYHOOD DAYS 

Another strong defender of the Union was 
Daniel Webster, who devoted his splendid 
powers as an orator to holding our nation to- 
gether in the troubled days when the North 
and the South were finding it hard to agree. 

Even in early childhood this remarkable 
man showed the serious nature, the strong 
mind, and the warm love of country which 
were to mark him in later years. 

When a lad of eight, he saw in the country 
store of his home town a cotton handkerchief 
with the Constitution of the United States 
printed on it. The price was twenty -five cents, 
a big amount to this little boy. But he wanted 
it very much, and gathering up all his small 
earnings, he bought and treasured it. 

From this copy, he learned the Constitution 
word for word, so that he could repeat it from 

143 



144 OUR PATRIOTS 

beginning to end. When later the great orator 
powerfully defends the Constitution, we are 
reminded of the quiet little lad poring over 
the words on that cotton handkerchief. 

The boy Daniel spent much of his time with 
books, few in number, but good in quality. He 
read them over and over again until he knew 
them almost by heart. He liked to memorize 
noble poems and selections from the Bible, 
and in this way he stored his mind with the 
highest kind of truth and became familiar with 
fine and noble expression. 

His liking for books did not prevent him 
from living much out-of-doors. He fished and 
hunted and roamed the hills, and engaged in 
sports with his brothers. He had often, also, 
as his companion an old English soldier and 
sailor who lived on the Webster farm. The 
two were good comrades. The old soldier would 
entertain the young lad with thrilling tales of 
adventure on land and sea, or the boy would 
read to his friend from books which the old 
man liked well. 

In school, although Daniel Webster was a 
thoughtful boy and had learned much from 



DANIEL WEBSTER 145 

nature and from books, he did not rank high. 
He was always a clear reasoner, however, and 
his deep, musical voice was pleasant to hear. 

In due time he became a very successful 
lawyer, and his knowledge of law and of govern- 
ment caused him to be elected by Massachusetts 
to the Senate of the United States. It was 
there, during the administration of Andrew 
Jackson, that he gave most noble service to his 
country. 

A MOST UNUSUAL MAN 

In appearance he was a man who drew all 
eyes toward him and his voice moved deeply 
all who heard him speak. Said a navvy one 
day in the streets of Liverpool, as Webster 
passed by, "There goes a King." At another 
time, an English gentleman, after hearing him 
speak, exclaimed: "Good Heavens, he is a 
small cathedral in himself!" 

We know, indeed, that he must have been 
a most unusual man, and those who once had 
seen his tall figure, with massive head, broad, 
high forehead, and great coal-black eyes, could 
never forget him. 



146 OUR PATRIOTS 

DANIEL Webster's bold stand for the union 

When the Nulhfication Act, which Presi- 
dent Jackson so promptly opposed; was be- 
ing discussed, Daniel Webster took a bold 
stand for the Union. He said: "Congress 
passed the tariff laws for the whole country. 
If the Supreme Court of the United States de- 
cides that Congress has the power, according 
to the Constitution, to pass such laws, that 
settles the matter. South Carolina and every 
other State must submit to this and to every 
other law that Congress sees fit to make i" 

Daniel Webster firmly believed that the 
Union had power over the States. His deep 
love for the Union breathes all through his 
masterly speeches, the most famous of which 
is his "Reply to Hayne" el this time. 

Hayne, a senator from South Carolina, was 
on the side of the South and set forth its views 
in a public debate. He had declared that each 
State was its own master, and so powerful seemed 
his arguments that many doubted whether even 
Daniel Webster could answer them. But had 
he not known the Constitution by heart since 



DANIEL WEBSTER 147 

a child, and had he not carefidly studied it 
ever since? New England, especially, fearing 
the dangerous doctrine of State rights and 
needing the protection of the tariff, awaited 
anxiously the outcome. 

A GREAT VICTORY FOR THE UNION 

When, therefore, on the morning of January 
26, 1830, Mr. Webster entered the Senate 
Chamber to make his reply to Hayne, he found 
a crowd of eager men and women waiting to 
hear him. "It is a critical moment," said a 
friend to Mr. Webster, "and it is high time 
that the people of this country should know 
what this Constitution is.'' 

"Then," said Webster, "by the blessing of 
Heaven, they shall learn this day, before the sun 
goes down, what I understand it to be." 

The nation was Webster's theme, his sole 
purpose being to strengthen the bonds of the 
Union. For four hours he held his audience 
spellbound, while he set forth in a convincing 
way the meaning of the Constitution. 

The orator won a great victory. Not only 
were many of his hearers in the Senate Chamber 



148 OUR PATRIOTS 

that day convinced, but loyal Americans all 
over the country, as they read it, felt a deeper 
devotion to the Union. His last words, "Liberty 
and Union ! one and inseparable, now and for- 
ever!" became a watchword to the nation. 

As he loved the Union, so he loved the em- 
blem of the Union, our flag. Even to the day 
of his death, he showed his deep affection for 
it. During the last two weeks of his life, he 
was troubled much with sleeplessness. A win- 
dow near his bed looked out upon a body of 
water, where lay his little boat at anchor. 

He had a ship-lantern so hung that its light 
would fall upon the Stars and Stripes of the 
flag flying over the boat. The sight of the flag, 
the emblem of the Union which had called forth 
his noblest efforts, seemed to bring comfort 
in the long hours of the night. Every evening 
at six it was raised and kept flying until six 
in the morning up to the day of Webster's 
death. 

To Daniel Webster we owe much for his 
splendid patriotic service in helping to keep 
our country united as one great nation. 



DANIEL WEBSTER 149 

SOME THINGS TO THINK ABOUT 

1. Tell the story about Daniel Webster and the cotton hand- 

kerchief. 

2. Can you tell how he looked? 

3. What was his idea of the Union ? 

4. How did he show his splendid patriotism? 



CHAPTER XXII 

FRANCES E. WILLARD 

In the making of our republic, women 
played mostly a silent part. They were the 
home-makers, and in the days when work was 
largely done by hand, the ordinary tasks of 
the household filled much of their time. 

In the present age many things that used 
to keep women busy in the home are done in 
shops and factories. This has given women a 
greater freedom to share in the interests of the 
public good outside the home. 

Among the first women to win national 
fame was Frances E. Willard. She was a gifted 
teacher who enjoyed her work with young 
people, but she came to feel a deep interest 
in the cause of temperance and chose to de- 
vote her life to putting down the drink evil. 

In 1874 she was made secretary of the 
Woman's Christian Temperance Union — a 

150 



FRANCES E. WILLARD 151 

national body — and five years later was elected 
its president. In 1888 she was made president 
of the World's Christian Temperance Union. 

Although she had almost no means of sup- 
port, she refused to take any money for her 
services. But this meant real hardship, for 
she often had to go without bread, and some- 
times she walked for miles at a time because 
she had not even the price of a car-fare. Of 
course, when the women of the Woman's Chris- 
tian Temperance Union learned about her 
poverty, they insisted upon paying her a small 
salary. 

Her beauty of character, her love for others, 
her sympathy, and her enthusiasm made her 
very successful in her work. She gave freely 
of her strength, using all her powers of body 
and mind to carry on the great life-work to 
which she had devoted herself. 

In a single year she travelled more than 
thirty thousand miles, speaking in every State 
in the Union. During a period of twelve years 
she made one speech a day, on an average, al- 
lowing herself only a scant six weeks in twelve 
months to spend in her quiet home — Rest 



152 OUR PATRIOTS 

Cottage — with the loving companionship of 
her mother. 

Her whole life was an example of unselfish 
devotion to others. Especially did those women 
and children who were innocent sufferers from 
the great curse of drink appeal to her warm 
heart. 

Her mind was very active. Even when 
going from place to place on the rail way- train, 
her pen was busy, her printed work reaching 
those whom she could not reach by her voice. 
Though filled with never-ending work, her days 
were bright with love for the cause to which 
she was giving her life, and faith in its final 
victory. It was a joy and an inspiration to 
know her; and wherever she went, she touched 
the hearts and quickened the hopes of those 
who came under her personal influence. 

Said a cultivated Southern woman after 
hearing her speak: "The first time I heard her 
I lay awake all night for sheer gladness. It was 
such a wonderful revelation to me that a woman 
like Miss Willard could exist. I thanked God 
and took courage for humanity." 

It was courage like this that she gave to 



FRANCES E. WILLARD 153 

the thousands who came under the spell of her 
remarkable personality. They were encouraged 
not only to do what they could by themselves, 
but also to unite cheerfully with others in 
carrying out their plans. To her friends and 
coworkers she often said: "Alone we can do 
httle." 

Her life and work were not in vain, for the 
eyes of the nation have been opened to the 
great waste and wrong of the drink evil, and 
the temperance cause has come to be one of 
the leading issues of the day. We are not 
likely to overestimate the value of Frances 
E. Willard's patriotic service in making our 
land better and happier to live in. 

SOME THINGS TO THINK ABOUT 

1. What proof have we of Miss Willard's poverty after she 

was made president of the Woman's Christian Tem- 
perance Union ? 

2. Tell all you can about how hard she worked. 

3. What did a cultivated Southern woman say about her? 

4. In what ways did she show her oatriotism? 

5. What do you admire in her? 



CHAPTER XXIII 

CLARA BARTON 

Few bodies of public workers, especially in 
time of war, appeal to us so much as the Red 
Cross. You will be interested to know that 
the American Red Cross was started by a small, 
rather frail-looking woman — Clara Barton — 
who had seen the wonderful work of the Red 
Cross in Europe. 

As a child she was shy and sensitive, with 
an active mind and a very tender heart toward 
all suffering. 

Her imagination was quick, and she used 
to listen breathlessly, upon her father's knee, 
to his stories of patriotism and deeds of daring; 
for he had fought in the Indian wars of the 
Northwest, and never tired of sharing with her 
his recollections of those days. The battle- 
field thus came to have a familiar place in her 
mind. 

154 



CLARA BARTON 155 

She was fond of all daring sports, being 
able to run and ride like a boy. "When five 
years old," she says, "I rode wild horses like 
a little Mexican." 

When she was only eleven years old, she 
had her first experience in that service which 
twenty-five years later became her great life- 
work. At a barn-raising on her father's farm, 
her brother David, who was known to be fear- 
less in sports, took a dare and climbed to the 
peak of the building to fasten the rafters to 
the ridge-pole. A board broke under his feet, 
and he fell to the earth, where his body struck 
some heavy timbers. 

For two years he lay a helpless cripple, lin- 
gering between life and death. During all this 
time, the faithful little Clara tenderly nursed 
him. "For two years," she once said, in speak- 
ing of that experience, "I only left his bedside 
for one half -day. I almost forgot that there 
was an outside of the house." 

The strain of these years of inactive, indoor 
life stopped her growth, and she was never 
more than five feet three inches in height. But 
though small in body, she had unusual power 



156 OUR PATRIOTS 

of endurance, for she had always been fond 
of daring sports. 

When she was only fifteen, she became a 
teacher and continued to teach for eighteen 
years. She had wonderful success, and her 
pupils loved her; but she worked so hard that 
she lost her voice for a time and had to give 
up. 

After a brief rest, wishing to be employed 
at something useful, she took up government 
work in the Patent Office at Washington, being 
one of the first women to be thus employed. 

CLARA barton's GREAT LIFE-WORK BEGINS 

So it happened that she had been in Wash- 
ington about five years when the Civil War, 
which was her great opportunity for service, 
broke out. Her patriotism breathes true and 
warm in a letter written to a friend in the earh' 
days of the war. She said: "I think the city 
will be attacked in the next sixty days. If it 
must be, let it come, and when there is no longer 
a soldier's arm to raise the Stars and Stripes 
above the Capitol, may God give strength to 
mine ! 



CLARA BARTON 157 

The first soldiers to arrive in Washington 
(April, 1861), in answer to President Lincoln's 
call, were from Massachusetts, near Clara Bar- 
ton's old home. They had been attacked by 
a mob in Baltimore, where the war was not in 
favor, and many were wounded, among them 
some whom Clara Barton had known in her 
youth. She wrote home: "We bound their 
wounds and fed them." Thus began her active 
service in the war. 

Always sensitive, feeling deeply the hurts 
of others, and urged by her strong desire to 
relieve pain, she at once became the centre of 
relief for the suffering and needy soldiers. 

During the following weeks of the summer, 
she collected supplies, stored them, and gave 
them out. She also met returning wounded 
soldiers at the docks, washed their neglected 
wounds, and took them to the hospitals, going 
back and forth to each incoming boat. 

CARING FOR THE WOUNDED ON THE 
BATTLE-FIELD 

But giving the wounded attention as soon 
as they were brought to Washington was not 



158 OUR PATRIOTS 

enough. She grieved that so many must suffer 
and even die without care on the battle-field. 
She felt that she herself must go to the front 
and give immediate aid to the men who had 
fallen. It was months before she was allowed 
to go, but when, after many rebuffs, she was 
at last granted passports, she was so overcome 
that she wept tears of joy. 

It was on the day after the battle of Cedar 
Mountain that she arrived at the front. A 
letter from the field tells something of her ex- 
periences there: 

"Five days and nights with three hours of 
sleep — a narrow escape from capture — and some 
days of getting the wounded into hospitals at 
Washington brought Sunday, August 30. And 
if you chance to feel that the positions I occu- 
pied were rough and unseemly for a woman — I 
can only reply that they were rough and un- 
seemly for men. But under all lay the life of 
the nation. I had inherited the rich blessing 
of health and strength of constitution — such 
as are seldom given to woman — and I felt that 
some return was due from me and that I ought 
to be there." 



CLARA BARTON 159 

Till the end of the war she gave all her time 
and strength to nursing the wounded and dying 
on the battle-field. No demand was too great, 
no service was too small, if it added comfort to 
the suffering soldiers. They called her "The 
Angel of the Battlefield." Through her fore- 
sight and efforts, the service in caring for the 
wounded was much improved. 

When the war was over, she spent four years 
in tracing the forty thousand "missing" soldiers 
of the war, and then she was obliged to rest. 

During this period of rest she went to Eu- 
rope, and while she was there the Franco- 
Prussian War (1870) broke out. She was 
caught up once more by a longing to do ser- 
vice for the wounded and suffering. 

Again her slight figure, in a plain dark dress, 
could be seen on the battle-field, or in the 
stricken cities, making its way through the 
shattered streets, or entering bombarded houses 
and villages to seek out the starving, half -clothed 
women and children. For this work she had 
been sought by the leaders of the International 
Red Cross, as the fame of her service in the 
Civil War had gone before her. 



160 OUR PATRIOTS 

THE WORK OF THE RED CROSS 

This body of workers, organized for deeds 
of mercy, was by agreement of the nations per- 
mitted to work on all battle-fields. Through 
their wonderful and perfect system Clara Barton 
found they could get together in four days sup- 
plies which it had taken her four years to gather 
on the battle-field. 

Believing that the United States should 
join in this great work of mercy, to which twenty- 
two nations had signed agreement, she came 
back to the United States, hoping to accomplish 
that end. Through her influence the American 
Red Cross was organized (1881), and she be- 
came its first president. 

Everywhere now the emblem of the Red 
Cross meets us. It stands for gentle, loving, 
and skilful service to suffering humanity. 
Those suffering from pestilence, famine, earth- 
quake, and other calamities have reason to 
love it. But the broadest field of Red Cross 
service is in the war. The Red Cross gathers 
up the wounded soldiers in arms of mercy, 
and to them, far from the loving ministries 



CLARA BARTON 161 

of home, it is "the greatest mother in the 
world." 

The red cross on a white background is 
seen flying at every mihtary post; mihtary 
surgeons and attendants wear it, and, accord- 
ing to the agreement of nations, are thus 
made free to carry on their work on the battle- 
field, however the fortunes of war may waver. 

Miss Barton as head of the American Red 
Cross became a great power in any time of need. 
All helpers bent to her will; wires flashed her 
messages, papers published her requests, and 
the country stood behind her. 

After reaching a ripe old age, she was urged 
to write the story of her life. "A great thing 
like this," said admiring friends, "must never 
be put aside for the multitude." But there 
never seemed to be time for such a task. If 
she began to write, some need for her service 
stopped her pen. There was always time to 
attend to that ! 

Her own fame was left to take care of itself. 
And well it did, for Clara Barton's name will 
always be linked with the great and beautiful 
work which she began. Wherever the Amer- 



162 OUR PATRIOTS 

ican Red Cross ministers to suffering, there 
her memorial is erected. 

SOME THINGS TO THINK ABOUT 

1. Tell about Clara Barton's nursing her brother when she was 

a young girl. 

2. Do you remember what she said in a patriotic letter in the 

early days of the Civil War? 

3. Wliy did she feel that she must go to the battle-field and 

aid the men who had fallen there? 

4. What can you tell about the great work of the American 

Red Cross, of which Miss Barton became the first presi- 
dent? 

5. What do you admire about this true patriot? 



CHAPTER XXIV 

ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

Perhaps of all our patriots none is more 
beloved than he who guided us through the 
dark days of the Civil War — Abraham Lincoln. 
To the people of our country the very name of 
Lincoln suggests self-sacrificing devotion to 
America. 

Some day perhaps you will read the inspir- 
ing story of his wonderful life; just now we 
can only make brief mention of a few inci- 
dents in it. From them, however, you may 
come to know something of the strength and 
nobility of his character and to love him for 
his great kindness and good-will to others. 

From the early days of his childhood 
throughout the long, burdened years of his 
later life, a spirit of helpfulness was one of his 
marked traits. He could not see a need but 
he longed to fill it. 

When only a little boy of seven, he was his 

163 



164 OUR PATRIOTS 

father's helper in building the cabin which was 
to be the family shelter in the frontier forest 
of Indiana. Manfully the little fellow worked 
with his axe, clearing away the bushes and 
underbrush, while his father cut down saplings 
and made poles for the rude cabin which was 
to be their home. 

When, as a youth of seventeen, he assisted 
the neighbors in their farm-work, we find the 
same helpful spirit. He did the work that was 
expected of him, and found time also to lend 
a helping hand to the busy housewife — making 
the fire, bringing in water, or doing some other 
humble task. Wherever he was or whatever he 
did, he won friends by his kindly, generous spirit. 

When, at the age of twenty-two, he left 
his father's home and became a storekeeper in 
New Salem, he continued to be the same 
ready helper that he had been in earlier years. 
If a wagon mired in New Salem's crooked, 
muddy street, it was Abraham's strong young 
shoulders that lifted hardest. If a poor widow's 
woodpile ran low, Abraham found time to 
chop wood for her. He watched by the bed- 
side of the sick. He rocked the cradle for tired 



ABRAHAM LINCOLN 165 

mothers. Wherever there was an opportunity 
to reach out a helping hand, he stood ready 
with friendly sympathy and kindly service. 

Besides being a cheerful worker and ready 
helper, he was also a good comrade because he 
had so much good humor and told so many 
funny stories. He liked to make speeches, too, 
and in this way often amused and entertained 
his friends. 

A CAREFUL STUDENT OF BOOKS AND A GOOD 
PUBLIC SPEAKER 

While so generous to his friends, he was 
also true to himself. He had a great thirst for 
knowledge, and in spite of his scant schooling — 
less than a year in his whole life — he lost no 
opportunity to read and study. 

There were few books in his home, but he 
borrowed every one that he knew about, think- 
ing a walk of ten or twelve miles a small price 
to pay for the privilege of reading a good book. 
Even the dictionary was carefully studied, and 
a book of the Statutes of Indiana, which con- 
tained also the Declaration of Independence 
and the Constitution, gave him his first insight 



166 OUR PATRIOTS 

into the great subject of law, which later be- 
came his chief study. 

He was a good public speaker, for he thought 
clearly and reasoned soundly. Then, too, his 
honesty and sincerity helped in winning others 
to his opinion, for he would make no argument 
in which he did not himself believe. Early 
in life he was called "Honest Abe," and he 
grew up a true-hearted man, trusted by all 
who knew him. 

He was stalwart in body — six feet four 
inches in height — and fond of all vigorous exer- 
cise. In every group, whether of wrestlers, or 
story-tellers, or debaters, he was, by consent 
of all, the leader, for even in his early days was 
revealed something of the qualities of later 
years. 

HE SEES SOMETHING OF THE OUTSIDE WORLD 

Of course, the life of a boy growing up in 
a new, sparsely settled town is quite shut off 
from the outside world. But Abraham's read- 
ing had widened his interests, and as he watched 
the boats carrying freight up and down the 
river, his thoughts eagerly followed them. 



ABRAHAM LINCOLN 167 

At last came his chance to see something 
of the outside world. 

First, it was a trip down the Ohio, and later, 
down the Mississippi, both times in trading 
flatboats. On the second trip, in the city of 
New Orleans, Lincoln witnessed a sight which 
he never forgot, and which had great influence 
on his later life. 

New Orleans was at that time full of slaves, 
and their number was constantly increasing. 
One of the saddest features was the slave-market. 
Here Lincoln saw, for the first time, men and 
women sold like animals. He saw negro slaves 
chained and whipped. 

Looking on at a slave-auction he received 
a great shock. As one slave after another 
was knocked down to the highest bidder, his 
indignation grew until at length he cried out: 
*'Boys, let's get away from this. If I ever 
get a chance to hit that thing (meaning slavery), 
I'll hit it hard." 

It was after his return from this trip, and 
while he was acting as storekeeper in New 
Salem, that a piece of great good fortune befell 
him. 



168 OUR PATRIOTS 

LAW STUDENT AND LAWMAKER 

One day a man moving west drove up to 
his store in a wagon loaded with the family 
goods. He wanted to get rid of one barrel which, 
he said, had nothing of special value in it. To 
oblige him, Lincoln bought it for half a dollar. 
His surprise was great when, at the bottom of 
the barrel, he found a copy of Blackstone, a 
great law book. To Lincoln it was a true 
gold-mine. He read it day by day, never 
tiring. 

At the age of twenty-five, he had so many 
friends and was so well thought of that he won 
the election to the legislature of Illinois. Here 
he was observed as a quiet, thoughtful young 
man with good common sense and good nature. 
He was really at school, listening, thinking, and 
learning. 

After leaving the legislature, he became a 
lawyer. Twelve years later he was sent to Con- 
gress at Washington. Here he was the same 
plain, simple man that he had always been, 
modest in dress, homely in speech, and sincere 
in manner, making friends by his quaint, droll 



ABRAHAM LINCOLN 169 

stories, but taking no important place in the 
doings of Congress. 

LINCOLN BECOMES A NATIONAL FIGURE 

Up to that time, he had lived the quiet life 
of a simple-hearted backwoodsman. But he 
was moving slowly yet surely to the place and 
time where he would let fall the blow he had 
promised when he saw the slave-auction at 
New Orleans. 

In the meantime, the question of slavery 
was being talked over in all parts of the coun- 
try. Lincoln had debated it many times in 
the towns and cities of his State. 

In 1857, came his great debate with the 
brilliant and polished Stephen A. Douglas. 
The eyes of the whole country were upon these 
two men. Lincoln had become a national figure. 
Those who wished to keep slavery feared him. 
Those who wished to put an end to it hailed 
him as their leader. 

A few years after the debates with Douglas, 
he had found so large a place in the hearts of 
his countrymen that they chose him for the 
highest office in the land — that of President of 



170 OUR PATRIOTS 

the United States. Then came the great op- 
portunity of service for which the quiet years 
of preparation had fitted him. 

But at once a nearer evil than slavery was 
thrown across his pathway. The South, where 
slavery had its home, had threatened to leave 
the Union, if Lincoln was elected. For he had 
said: "A house divided against itself cannot 
stand." By this he meant that in time the 
whole country would be either slave or free, 
and the South feared him. 

Even before Lincoln could take his place 
as President, several States attempted to leave 
the Union. They did all that was in their power 
except to force the government to give its con- 
sent. So Lincoln's immediate duty was to save 
the Union, even by war if need be. 

THE DARK STORM BREAKS 

Barely had he entered upon the duties of 
his office when the dark storm that had threat- 
ened broke. South Carolina seceded. Fort 
Sumter was fired upon. The Union was in dan- 
ger. Immediately a great army must be raised. 

We will pass over the grim details of that 



ABRAHAM LINCOLN 171 

cruel war, the battles in the field, the bitter 
struggles in Congress and in the country at 
large. We can never know the suffering, the 
heartaches, the sorrows, and privations of 
those four years — 1861-1865. We can never 
realize with what personal sacrifice and agony 
of spirit President Lincoln served his country 
through those perilous, dreary years. 

But even when defeat followed defeat, his 
faith and courage never wavered. In one of 
the darkest hours, when the Merriinac threat- 
ened to destroy the Union fleet and the country 
was in a panic, we hear the clear, calm voice 
of Lincoln declaring: "I have not the slightest 
fear of any result that shall impair our military 
and naval strength. This is God's fight and 
He will win in His own time. He will take care 
of us." 

THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION 

Many expected that Lincoln would imme- 
diately free the slaves when the South seceded, 
and criticised him for not doing so. But Lin- 
coln felt that he, as President, had no author- 
ity to do this. 



172 OUR PATRIOTS 

It was to save the Union that his oath of 
office bound him, and he said: "If I could save 
the Union without freeing any slave, I would 
do it; and if I could save it by freeing some 
and leaving others alone, I would also do that. 
What I do about slavery and the colored race, 
I do because I believe it helps to save the 
Union, and what I forbear to do, I forbear 
because I do not believe it would help to save 
the Union." 

But as the war went on, he became certain 
that the slaves, by remaining on the planta- 
tions and by producing food for the Southern 
soldiers, were aiding the Southern armies. It 
was then that he felt it right as a war measure 
to set the slaves free in all the territory where 
people were fighting against the Union, just 
as fast as that territory was conquered by Union 
troops. By thus weakening the South he would 
help bring victory to the Union. 

The famous state paper in which Lincoln 
declared that such slaves were free was called 
the Emancipation Proclamation. It was issued 
on January 1, 1863, and thus Lincoln made 
true his words, "If ever I get a chance to strike 



ABRAHAM LINCOLN 173 

that thing [meaning slavery], I'll strike it 
hard." 

When Lincoln signed this great paper, he 
struck the shackles from a million human 
beings. 

THE GETTYSBURG SPEECH 

But the freeing of the slaves did not bring 
an end to the fighting. The year wore on, and 
some terrible battles were fought. One of the 
most deadly was on the field of Gettysburg. 
Here fell sixty-six hundred "Boys in Blue" 
and "Boys in Gray," and here they were 
buried. 

A day was appointed (November 19, 1863) 
for the consecration of the place made sacred 
by the sacrifice of so many lives, and a vast 
company assembled to do honor to the occasion. 
Edward Everett was the orator of the day. 
The President, also, was to make a brief speech. 
Perhaps nowhere is his nobility of spirit better 
shown than in the words he spoke at this dedi- 
cation of the national cemetery at Gettysburg. 

When Mr. Lincoln arose and came forward, 
the vast audience sat hushed as, for a moment. 



174 OUR PATRIOTS 

he stood with bowed head and hands clasped 
behind him. So impressed were the people 
with the sad-eyed countenance, furrowed with 
care and sorrow, that they almost forgot to 
cheer. For a moment he met their gaze in 
silence, as if unconscious of their presence, and 
then spoke as follows: 

"Four score and seven years ago our fathers 
brought forth upon this continent a new na- 
tion, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the 
proposition that all men are created equal. 
Now we are engaged in a great civil war, test- 
ing whether that nation, or any nation so con- 
ceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We 
are met on a great battle-field of that war. We 
have come to dedicate a portion of that field 
as a final resting-place for those who here gave 
their lives that that nation might live. It is 
altogether fitting and proper that we should 
do this. But in a larger sense we cannot dedi- 
cate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow 
this ground. The brave men, living and dead, 
who struggled here, have consecrated it far 
above our power to add or detract. The world 
will little note, nor long remember, what we 



ABRAHAM LINCOLN 175 

say here, but it can never forget what they did 
here. It is for us, the Hving, rather to be dedi- 
cated here to the unfinished work which they 
who fought here have thus far so nobly ad- 
vanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated 
to the great task remaining before us, that from 
these honored dead we take increased devotion 
to that cause for which they gave the last full 
measure of devotion; that we here highly re- 
solve that these dead shall not have died in 
vain; that this nation, under God, shall have 
a new birth of freedom, and that government 
of the people, by the people, and for the people, 
shall not perish from the earth." 

The words are few and simple, but they 
fitted the occasion and went straight to the 
hearts of the people. 

Lincoln's relations with the soldiers 

In no way did Lincoln's tender, sympathetic 
nature better reveal itself than in his relations 
with the soldiers. Most of them were only 
boys under twenty-one years of age; so that 
in their uniforms of blue capes and caps they 
were in fact as in name "Boys in Blue." 



176 OUR PATRIOTS 

Lincoln's first visits to them were when 
they were encamped just outside of Washing- 
ton, before they had had any experience of 
campaigns and battles, or knew anything of 
the cruelties and hardships of war. It was there 
that many came to know him, to feel his friendly 
hand-clasp, to receive his "God bless you," 
and to believe that he cared for them not only 
as soldiers but as human beings. 

When he visited their camp, and passed 
down the long rows of tents, he showed an in- 
terest in everything that touched their daily 
living. To their hearty greetings he answered 
by smiles and nods, and in many ways he made 
it plain that he was their friend. Looking upon 
his sorrow-stricken but kindly face, they said: 
"He cares for us; he makes us fight, but he 
cares." "Father Abraham" they loved to call 
him, and to him every man bearing a musket 
was as a son. 

And in making friends of his "Boys in Blue," 
Lincoln won his way to the hearts of thousands 
of fathers and mothers throughout the North, 
who had reason to bless his name and memory. 

Through the days of the long and bitter 



ABRAHAM LINCOLN 177 

struggle he went his way, burdened and sor- 
rowing, but always trusting that the right would 
prevail. "Let us have faith," he said in one 
of his speeches, "that right makes might; and 
in that faith, let us, to the end, dare to do our 
duty as we understand it." 

THE KINDNESS OF A GREAT SOUL 

However great his load, he always had a 
cheerful word or a kind deed for those who were 
in trouble. One day two women called to beg 
the release of two men in jail for resisting the 
draft. Their request led Lincoln to release all 
the men in the same jail for that offense. 

The elder of the women, an aged mother, 
was much affected, and said to the President 
quietly as she was leaving: "I shall probably 
never see you again until we meet in heaven." 
This touched the President keenly, and one of 
his friends, observing the effect, told him that 
he should protect himself against such trying 
scenes. 

"Things of the sort you have just seen don't 
hurt me," Lincoln replied. "It is the only thing 
to-day that has made me forget my condition 



178 OUR PATRIOTS 

or has given me any pleasure. Then he added 
these beautiful words: "Die when I may, I 
wish it said of me by those who know me best 
that I always plucked a thistle and planted 
a flower where I thought a flower would grow." 

Hardly had the war ended and Lincoln 
begun to look forward to days of peace after 
the awful struggle, when the hand of an as- 
sassin struck him down. 

The nation mourned their martyr-President 
as with a personal grief. Their great leader 
and friend was gone. But he had fulfilled his 
mission. He had saved the Union and freed 
the slaves. 

He gave the "last full measure of devotion" 
in the service of his country, and in that coun- 
try no name is held higher in love and honor 
than that of Abraham Lincoln. 

SOME THINGS TO THINK ABOUT 

1. How did Abraham Lincoln show his helpful attitude when 

a little boy, and also when a youth of seventeen ? 

2. How do you know he had a great thirst for knowledge? 

3. Tell about his trip to New Orleans and the slave-auction 

he saw there. 

4. What did Lincoln mean when he said: "A house divided 

against itself cannot stand"? 



ABRAHAM LINCOLN 179 

5. What did he say about slavery m its bearing upon the 

saving of the Union ? 

6. What reason had he for issuing the Emancipation Procla- 

mation ? What was this great state paper ? 

7. The Gettysburg address is a wonderful speech. Would 

you like to learn it by heart? 

8. Why did the "Boys m Blue," call Lincoln "Father 

Abraham"? 

9. Tell the story of the two women who begged Lincoln to 

release two men in jail for resisting the draft. 
10. In what ways was Lincoln a true patriot? 



CHAPTER XXV 

HOW WE MAY BE PATRIOTS 

As you have read these pages, you have 
seen that our country has a long hue of noble 
men and women who unselfishly gave time and 
strength and often life itself in her service. 

In the early days of the colonies, the foun- 
ders of our nation endured great hardship that 
they might establish a free land. 

The brave men of Revolutionary days 
fought against a great nation, and with little 
but their resolute spirits to encourage them, 
to keep this country free. 

In the Civil War, thousands of young men, 
to whom life was bright and dear, cheerfully 
laid it down to preserve the Union, and make 
it a nation of free people. 

The memory of these heroes, many of them 
unknown to us by name, is a precious inheri- 
tance. What has cost so much we cannot but 
value highly. 

180 



HOW WE MAY BE PATRIOTS 181 

We know that to this land have come mil- 
lions of people from foreign countries — some 
in earlier days, some but recently — among them 
your ancestors and mine, the ancestors of us 
all. 

AMERICA A LAND OF LIBERTY AND OPPORTUNITY 

We ask, Wliy have they come? For what 
has America stood that she has drawn so 
many millions of people from their far-distant 
homes across the seas? Why have they left 
their relatives and friends, to take the long, 
hard ocean journey to a land that is new and 
strange, and where perhaps their own language 
is not spoken? Why have they chosen this as 
their home? Why do they wish to become 
American citizens? 

In many cases, it is the love of freedom 
which has drawn them — the same spirit which 
brought the Pilgrims and other colonists across 
the seas to these shores back in the days when 
life here was a hard and perilous struggle. 

To others it has meant the land of oppor- 
tunity — better wages, better homes, better 
chances for their children. 



182 OUR PATRIOTS 

Others have come for different reasons, but 
all because America had offered them something 
they could not get in their own country. 

And to all America has stood as the land 
of liberty and opportunity. As the newcomers 
approach the great port of New York, the first 
glimpse they catch of their new country is the 
beautiful Statue of Liberty in the harbor. Free 
and noble she stands as the spirit of our 
America, holding aloft the torch of liberty. 
Here men may live and work and breathe the 
glorious air of freedom and hope. 

The brave people of the early days of our 
nation were so grateful for the privileges of a 
free land that they were willing to give much 
of sacrifice and service in return. 

It has fallen to us to live in easier times. 
Not one of us probably has known hunger and 
cold and discomfort such as these people bore 
without complaint in their joy to be free and 
their desire to pass on a free country to their 
children. 

Perhaps we have taken our blessings too 
much as a matter of course, not realizing with 
what price of suffering and sacrifice they have 



HOW WE MAY BE PATRIOTS 183 

been bought. But if we think for a moment 
of what Hfe would be without them, we know 
how much we prize them. And I hope down 
deep in our hearts is the willingness to bear 
and sacrifice, if need be, in the same spirit as 
those people of earlier times. None of us is 
so unfair as to take all and give nothing. 

HOW CAN / HELP MY COUNTRY .^^ 

I hope you are already thinking: "How 
can I help my country.^" There are many 
ways. 

First, remembering that you will soon grow 
up and take upon yourselves the duties of cit- 
izens, prepare for that time by doing your study 
and work faithfully each day. You who are 
children to-day will soon be grown men and 
women. You must be ready to do your part 
of the work of the world. You will not be, if 
you let slip your opportunities now. 

Second, we can save. Even children are 
asked to save their pennies and buy war stamps. 
For our country can use these pennies to help 
our brave soldiers overseas. We can also save 
food and other materials. Care of our books 



184 OUR PATRIOTS 

and our clothing, and of all property is to-day 
real patriotism. 

Third, we cannot only save food, but help 
produce it. Boys and girls who are willing to 
give up some hours of play to work in gardens 
— even perhaps when the sun is hot and the 
muscles ache — in order to help feed those who 
are fighting to win victory in this awful war 
are showing some of the brave spirit of good 
soldiers. 

Fourth, we can all have the spirit of help- 
fulness. We all see each day some chance to 
serve or help another. And we shall find that 
the more we do these little services, the happier 
we shall be. For you and I know that making 
others happy makes us happy. 

And, of course, if we have this helpful spirit, 
we shall work loyally with our parents and 
teachers. What kind of soldier would he be 
who would not obey orders, but tried to add 
to his commander's difficulties.^ Loyalty to 
home and school is a part of loyalty to our 
country. 



HOW WE MAY BE PATRIOTS 185 

OUR GREAT PURPOSE IN ENTERING THIS WAR 

President Wilson has spoken for us in noble 
words our great purpose in entering this war. 
We desire to see the right cause triumph and 
a just peace established, so that even the smaller 
and weaker nations may live safe and unharmed, 
and so that we, and the children that come 
after us, may know the joy of freedom. With 
all that the war is costing and will cost in lives 
and sorrows and money, we are happier than 
in the days when we were only onlookers in 
the struggle. For we are doing our duty, and 
taking our part, whatever the cost. 

And we do not fight alone. The brave and 
good of other days are by our side. We have 
as comrades a n6ble army of great and unselfish 
patriots. 

We love our beautiful country and are 
proud of her glorious history. In loving her 
and serving her, we strive to serve all the na- 
tions. For in a sense all the nations of the world 
are one great family. One nation cannot fail 
in justice and honor without all nations bearing 
the consequences. One nation cannot suffer 



186 OUR PATRIOTS 

from wrong or injustice without all nations 
suffering with it. 

Let us, therefore, earnestly resolve that we 
will each do our part to keep the nation to which 
we belong strong and true in her inner life, and 
in her relations toward all other nations. 

If we keep our country's good ever before 
us, making such sacrifices as we are called upon 
to make for her, we belong to the noble com- 
pany of patriots as truly as did Washington 
or Lincoln. Are you a patriot? 

SOME THINGS TO THINK ABOUT 

1. Why have so many million people come from foreign coim- 

tries to make their homes in America? 

2. Why were the brave people of the early days of our nation 

willing to give much of sacrifice and service? 

3. In what four ways can you help your country? 

4. What was our great purpose in entering this war? Why 

was it our duty to do so? 

5. Make a list of the patriots you have come to know in this 

book. 

6. Do you clearly understand what it is to be patriotic ? Have 

you a strong desire to be a patriot? 



INDEX 



Adams, John, 85 

Adams, Samuel, 69-76, 78, 79, 81, 

83, 85, 112 
Amsterdam, New, 47 

Baltimore, Lord, 39, 42 
Barton, Clara, 154-162 
Bon Homme Richard (bo-nom're- 

shar'), 116-118 
Boston, 14, 18, 93 
"Boston Tea Party," 71-76 
Brewster, Elder, 9 
Brooklyn Heights, 95 
Burke, Edmund, 65 

Calvert, George, 39 

Canonicus, 22 

Catholics, 39-43 

Charles I, 39 

Charles II, 50 

Charlestown, 14 

Church, St. John's, 66 

Civil War, 170-177 

Clark, George Rogers, 120-126 

Continental Army, 88, 92 

Continental Congress, 84-89 

Cornwallis, General, 103, 107, 108 

Cotton-gin, 139 

Creoles, 123 

Creek Indians, 136, 137 

Dartmouth, the, 72, 74 
Dawes, William, 79, 81, 83 
Declaration of Independence, 84- 

90 
Dorchester Heights, 94 
Douglas, Stephen A., 169 
Drake, the, 116 



Emancipation Proclamation, 171- 
173 

Fox, Charles, 65 

Franklin, Benjamin, 85, 90, 103, 

116 
French War, last, 58 
Friends, 49, 50 

Gage, General, 77, 78, 79 

Gates, General, 112 

George III, 58, 64, 65, 71-72, 88 

Georgia, 55 

Gettysburg Speech, 173-175 

Hale, Nathan, 98-100 

Half Moon, 45 

Hamilton, Colonel, 120. 125 

Hancock, John, 77, 78, 79, 81, 83, 

85, 89 
Hartford, 25-27 
Hayne, Senator, 146, 147 
Henry, Patrick, 58-68, 86, 122 
Hessians, 88, 106 
Hooker, Thomas, 25-29 
Howe, General, 95, 98, 103 
Hudson, Henry, 44-48 
Hudson River, 46, 94 
Hutchinson, Governor, 73 

Independence of the United States, 

84-90 
Indians, 41, 42, 46, 52, 55, 56, 121 

Jackson, Andrew, 136-142 
James, King, 39 
Jamestown, 31, 33 
Jefferson, Thomas, 64, 86, 89 
Jones, John Paul, 115-119 



187 



188 



INDEX 



Kaskaskia, 123 
Knox, General, 105 

Lee, Charles, 101, 102 
Lee, Richard Henry, 89 
Lincoln, Abraham, 163-178 
London Company, 30-32, 37 

Manhattan Island, 47 
Marion, Francis, 127-131 
Maryland, 40 
Massasoit, 21, 22 
Mayflower, 6, 9, 10 
Minutemen, 78 

Napoleon, 137 
Navy, American, 115, 132 
New Amsterdam, 47 
New Netherlands, 47, 48 
New York, 45, 47, 95 
Northwest Passage, 45, 47 
Nullification, 138, 140 

Oglethorpe, James, 54-57 
Old North Church, 79 
Old South Church, 73, 74 

Parliament, 58, 59, 61, 71 
Partisan warfare, 127 
Penn, William, 49-53 
Pennsylvania, 51, 53 
Perry ,"^ Oliver H., 132-135 
Philadelphia, 51 
Pilgrims, 6-12 
■Pitcairn, Major, 82 
Pitt, William, 64 
Plymouth, 7, 21 
Pocahontas, 34, 36 
Powhatan, 34-36 
Prescott, Doctor, 81 
Princeton, victory at, 108 
Protective tariff, 139-142 
Providence, 23 



Provincial Congress, 77 
Puritans, 13-22 
Putnam, General, 95 

Quakers, 49, 51 

Ranger, the, 116 

Red Cross, 154, 159, 160, 161 

Revere, Paul, 77-83 

Rhode Island, 23 

Rotch, Benjamin, 72, 73, 74 

Rowe, John, 74 

Saint Mary's, 41 
Salem, 14,' 20 
Savannah, 55 
Scott, General, 141 
Sera-pis (se-ra-pis), 117-118 
Slavery, 141, 167, 169, 170 
Smith, Colonel, 82 
Smith, John, 30-38 
Stamp Act, 59, 60 
Standish, Captain, 9 
Stuyvesant, Governor, 47 
Sullivan, General, 106 

Tariff, 139-142 
Tea, tax on, 71-76 
Trenton, victory at, 104-106 

Valley Forge, 108-111 
Vincennes, 123, 125 

Warren, Joseph, 78, 79 
Washington, George, 86, 91-113 
Webster, Daniel, 143-148 
Willard, Frances E., 150-153 
W'illiams, Roger, 19-23 
Williamsburg, 60, 61, 65, 122 
Wilson, President, 185 
Winthrop, John, 13-18, 22 
Woman's Christian Temperance 
Union, 150, 151 



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